Space Industry and Business News  
Britain to cut Iraq troops to 2,500 by early 2008: PM

by Staff Writers
London (AFP) Oct 8, 2007
Britain will more than halve the number of its troops in Iraq to 2,500 by next spring, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday, in a long-expected statement.

He also announced plans to help local Iraqis who have worked for British forces in the country since the 2003 US-led invasion to settle.

"We plan for next spring to reduce force numbers in southern Iraq to a figure of 2,500," he told parliament's lower House of Commons.

Brown had already announced on a visit to Baghdad last week that there would be 1,000 fewer troops in Iraq by the end of the year, taking troop numbers down to 4,500.

He said Monday that the reduction down to 4,500 would come immediately after Britain hands over control of Basra Province in southern Iraq to the Iraqi forces in the next two months.

Brown outlined "two distinct stages" to the handover: the first would see British forces training and mentoring Iraqi security forces, securing supply routes, protecting the Iraq-Iran border and provide back-up to local troops.

In the second, he said British forces would retain a more limited ability to intervene by force with the main focus on training.

Meanwhile Brown confirmed that London will help Iraqi local staff who have worked for British forces to settle in Iraq and elsewhere, including Britain under agreed circumstances.

Local staff including interpreters and translators who have worked for Britain for 12 months or more will be eligible for financial and other support, he said in a long-awaited statement to lawmakers.

"I am pleased to announce today a new policy which more fully recognises the contribution made by our local Iraqi staff who work for our armed forces and civilian missions in uniquely difficult circumstances.

"Existing staff who have been employed by us for more than 12 months and have completed their work will be able to apply for a package of financial payments to aid resettlement elsewhere in Iraq or elsewhere in the region or -- in agreed circumstances -- for admission to the UK."

Earlier Brown said the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq was not a sign of failure, but a decision based on the Iraqis capacity to run their own security.

"Therefore, you cannot see the reduction of troops as an admission of defeat or a run-down or as a threat to security. It is the other way round," he told his monthly news conference in London.

"When we announced less troops in Iraq, it is because we are winning the security battle and that there is a lull in some of the fighting that is taking place in Iraq -- and we hope it's a permanent lull."

After last week's announcement Brown was accused of "cynical politics" because a reduction of 500 troops, included in the 1,000, had previously been announced and 250 of them had already returned home.

Brown rejected claims of media manipulation in an interview with BBC television broadcast Sunday, saying he had had to go to talk with military commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government.

Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Iraqi president eyes huge US troop withdrawal
Washington (AFP) Oct 7, 2007
The United States could withdraw more than 100,000 troops out of Iraq by the end of 2008 but should retain three permanent bases, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Sunday.







  • US cities' Wi-Fi dreams fading fast
  • Digital Dandelions: The Flowering Of Network Research
  • Researchers Aim To Make Internet Bandwidth A Global Currency
  • Controlling Bandwidth In The Clouds

  • SSTL Satellites Sign-Up For 2008 Launch
  • Ariane 5 rocket puts US, Australian satellites into orbit
  • Arianespace Boosts Intelsat 11 And Optus D2 Into Orbit
  • Ariane 5 Cleared For Intelsat 11 And Optus D2 Mission

  • MEPs seek limits on aircraft emissions by 2010
  • Aircraft And Automobiles Thrive In Hurricane-Force Winds At Lockheed Martin
  • New Delft Material Concept For Aircraft Wings Could Save Billions
  • Cathay Pacific chief hits out at anti-aviation critics

  • Australia To Join With United States In Defence Global Satellite Communications Capability
  • First Class Of Airmen Train For Wideband Global SATCOM
  • Australia To Join With United States In Defence Global Satellite Communications Capability
  • Boeing Supports New USAF GPS Ground Control System

  • Northrop Grumman Tests Multi-Mission Command And Telemetry System For Key Global Space Programs
  • New Transparent Plastic Strong As Steel
  • Indonesia studies building record suspension bridge
  • Scientists create transparent, thin plastic strong like steel

  • MBDA Director Takes Up Business Management Assignment On The MEADS Program
  • Analysis: Sulick new head spy for CIA
  • Raytheon Names Dr. Thomas Kennedy VP Tactical Airborne Systems
  • Northrop Grumman Appoints James Myers VP And GM Of Navigation Systems Division

  • Successful Image Taking By The High Definition Television
  • Boeing Launches WorldView-1 Earth-Imaging Satellite
  • New Faraway Sensors Warn Of Emerging Hurricane's Strength
  • Key Sensor For Northrop Grumman NPOESS Program Passes Critical Structural Test

  • New York taxi cabs sound the horn for second strike
  • EU deadlocked over funding for Galileo satnav project
  • EU plans for funding Galileo satnav system already hitting snags
  • Galileo GPS Network Hit By More Delays

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement