Gordon Brown signals the start of Britain's exit strategy from Afghanistan

[Turborama]

Source: Daily Mail

Britain will start handing over control of parts of Helmand Province to Afghan rule within a year, Gordon Brown said yesterday.

Signalling the beginning of an 'exit strategy' for UK troops, he suggested that responsibility for security in two districts in the badlands of southern Afghanistan could be transferred 'by mid-next year'.

He made the announcement at his press conference as he tried to repair crumbling support for the controversial war.

=snip=

The Prime Minister also confirmed a shift in strategy that will see British troops concentrated in towns and cities, instead of trying to dominate sparsely-populated rural areas.

But Mr Brown's determination to signal that the mission was heading towards its endgame was at odds with the view of military top brass.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1226799/Gordon-Brown-signals-start-Britains-exit-strategy-Afghanistan.html#ixzz0WWway5RQ

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Interesting that the usually hawkish Daily Hate Mail and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6539513/Gordon-Brown-signals-start-of-Britains-Afghanistan-exit-strategy.html">Torygraph are running with this.

[earcandle]

1. Will this signal a start for all troops to leave?

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. They are the greatest supporters of the NATO mission

watch for Germany to signal next... and at that point, well the other contingents are really small. So we will be left with two choices... pull out or face a real bad defeat.

[hoya86]

3. ha

if only.

[tomm2thumbs]

4. this is like when you are at a party and everyone starts to look at their watch

party might be coming to an end.... or at least moving into the kitchen

[Vidar]

5. I'm glad Brown is tired of the useless bloodshed. Too bad someone else doesn't get it.