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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Blair hints at security handover |
| 2005-01-25 |
| BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair hinted that US and British forces could begin handing over their security operations in large swathes of Iraq to local security forces after this month's elections there, in an interview published today. Mr Blair said US and British forces would set "timelines" with the new Iraqi government for a handover of control to Iraqi forces, at least in peaceful parts of their country. "There are areas where we would be able to hand over to those Iraqi forces. Remember, 14 out of the 18 provinces in Iraq are relatively peaceful and stable", the Prime Minister told the Financial Times newspaper. Mr Blair did not give any firm dates for a British pullout, but said London and Washington would have a better idea of when to withdraw their troops after the landmark vote on Sunday. "Both ourselves and the Iraqis want us to leave as soon as possible. The question is what is 'as soon as possible'. And the answer to that is: when the Iraqi forces have the capability to do the job." Analysts have pointed to Mr Blair and his war ally US President George W. Bush's desire to find an exit strategy for their soldiers. With 150,000 troops on the ground, US forces are at their highest level in Iraq since they overthrew Saddam Hussein's regime in Baghdad in April 2003. Like Mr Blair, Mr Bush has refused to lay out a clear timetable for withdrawal, saying it will be "as quickly as possible". |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #1 I read this as I am up for election and this war is unpopular in the UK. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2005-01-25 11:27:59 PM |