The Ministry of Defence has drafted plans for a significant withdrawal of British troops from Iraq over the next 18 months and a big deployment to Afghanistan, the Financial Times has learnt.
In what would represent the biggest operational shake-up involving the armed forces since the Iraq war, the first stage of a run-down in military operations is likely to take place this autumn with a handover of security to Iraqis in at least two southern provinces.
[. . .]
While the MoD insisted that no decision had been made on Afghan or Iraqi deployments, John Reid, defence secretary, said yesterday that Iraqi forces could begin to take charge of security in their country within a year. [FT.com]
[. . .]
So where are we gonna get the troops to make up the difference? I'm hoping the Iraqis can take over from the Brits, but somehow I think the insurgents will move in as soon as the British leave and we'll have more U.S. troops bogged down there.
No comments:
Post a Comment