Australia says Britain is not cutting and running

[Doondoo]

The Howard Government today denied Britain was cutting and running by deciding to start pulling its troops out of Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has told US President George W. Bush he will begin pulling Britain's 7100 troops out of Iraq - reportedly within weeks.

Although Mr Blair has yet to confirm details, news reports in Britain say Mr Blair will announce the first contingent of 1500 troops will leave Iraq in a matter of weeks, and a further 1500 will follow by the end of the year.

Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson today played down the significance of the expected announcement and said it was a sign of progress in southern Iraq, where most British troops are based.

"Under no circumstances should anybody interpret the British having 5000 troops in Basra, 10 times the Australian number, looking after the same number of provinces, as any kind of cut and run," he told reporters in Perth.

"In fact, what this is evidence of is the fact that in the south of Iraq we are making progress and the British are confident enough to reduce their troop numbers to around 5000."


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21262654-601,00.html

[malaise]

1. Talking points spreading quickly

Has Cheney reached Australia yet?

[Selatius]

2. Why the hell did Australians elect Howard at all?

He will bring ruin to them if they don't keep him in check.

[malaise]

4. 1600 British troops heading home

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6380000/newsid_6381800?redirect=6381873.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1

What was interesting in Blair's comments was what's really on his mind - the petro-carbon legislation in Iraq. Oh lock up these criminals please.

Oh he also said he has much faith in Baker-Hamilton and then in the Bush surge and he's getting serious questions about this now.

Add.

[farmbo]

3. Where's Mean Jean Schmidt when we really need her?

(Remember her "Only cowards cut & run" speech on the House floor?)

[Sherman A1]

5. Perhaps

She has already cut and ran?

[Crayson]

6. So the British pull out before their Prince Harry is deployed...

... great timing, Harry!

^_^

[malaise]

7. 1600 of them pull out.

Seriously Blair is as delusional as Bush.

[Edweird]

8. I agree.

Things are great. Couldn't be better. Iraq is a shining beacon of peaceful prosperous democracy. Now, let's pull our troops out TODAY! No need for any American troops to be there any longer.


I thought maybe a little reverse psychology would work.