Tuesday, July 05, 2005 UK Announces Pullout of Brit Troops in Iraq Financial Times UK: The Ministry of Defense has drafted plans for a significant withdrawal of British troops from Iraq over the next 18 months and a big deployment to Afghanistan. Senior UK officers believe the four south-east provinces under UK command, which are largely Shia and have not seen the same violence as more Sunni-dominated areas north of Baghdad, may be ready for a handover earlier than those under US command. Defense officials emphasised that all plans for Iraqi deployments were contingent on the ability of domestic security forces to assume peacekeeping duties from UK troops. Iraqi forces have so far proven unable to take over such roles in areas where the insurgency is most intense, and progress has disappointed coalition officials. Hmm, looks like Operation Yellow Elephant needs to be cranked up soon. |