Mixed Signals from Britain on Iraq War – Is the Alliance Over?
Posted by Flap in Gordon Brown, United Kingdom
President Bush, right, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown participate in a joint press availability at Camp David, Md., Monday, July 30, 2007.
Mixed signals on the Iraq War are coming from Britain and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
And, Britain insists that they will remove their troops from Iraq irrespective of the United States.
Gordon Brown has paved the way for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq by telling George Bush he would not delay their exit in order to show unity with the United States.
After four hours of one-to-one talks with the US President at his Camp David retreat, Mr Brown told a joint press conference he would make a Commons statement in October on the future of the 5,500 British troops in the Basra region.
The Bush administration, under mounting domestic pressure to produce an exit strategy from Iraq, has been nervous that a full British withdrawal would add to the criticism. But Mr Brown made clear – and President Bush accepted – that Britain would go its own way, even if that gave the impression the two countries were diverging.
Yet, there was this coming from the White House.
President Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown forged a unified stand on Iraq Monday, aiming to head off talk of a splintering partnership in the face of an unpopular war.
“There’s no doubt in my mind he understands the stakes of the struggle,” Bush said of Brown after two days of talks at the tranquil presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains.
The visit was closely watched for any sign of daylight between the president and prime minister after four years of unwavering support by Tony Blair, Brown’s predecessor. Blair was saddled with the nickname “poodle” by critics at home he felt he was too compliant with Bush’s policies, particularly in Iraq.
Brown told Bush that he shares the U.S. view of gradually turning over security of Iraq to its own people, based on signs of clear progress and advice from military leaders.
“We have duties to discharge and responsibilities to keep in support of the democratically elected government,” Brown said of Britain’s commitment to Iraq.
Still, as the U.S. has built up troops, Britain has been pulling them out.
Let the British wankers leave with their tails between their legs.
Iran bitch slapped them earlier this year and they took it with a stupid smile.
Has the UK – America alliance been broken?
No, but it is headed towards a re-evaluation. America can NO longer count on the Brits.
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Technorati Tags: United Kingdom, Britain, Gordon Brown, Iran, Iraq War, George W Bush
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Read Joe McGinnis: “The Selling of the Presidentâ€: it outlines Nixon’s run in 1968. . . nothing has changed (although many argue it’s much worse).Comment by Notwhoyouthink — July 28, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
Comment by spencers mom — July 28, 2007 @ 9:40 pm