Iraq Politicians Applaud British and Danish Troop Withdrawals
Meanwhile Bush Spokesman says Withdrawal is “Sign of Success”
Iraqis welcomed the news on Wednesday that Britain and Denmark are preparing to dramatically scale back their military forces in and around the unruly southern port city of Basra.
British forces have been based in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, since the US-led invasion of March 2003, fighting insurgents and illegal militia forces bent on controlling the region’s lucrative oil industry.
Sami al-Askari, a Shiite lawmaker and political adviser to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said: “The withdrawal is the wish of the Iraqi government and all the political powers in the country.”
“We welcome any withdrawal of British forces from inside the centre of the city,” said Hakim al-Mayahi, head of the Basra provincial security council, which has had a fractious relationship with the British. Click here to read more about Iraqi’s thrilled at British and Danish withdrawal.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair and Condoleezza Rice are shown grinning with success as they announce foreign withdrawals from the “Coalition of the Willing.” In as a story appearing in USA Today, the Bush administration said Wednesday that Britain’s decision to withdraw 1,600 troops from Iraq is a positive sign that fits with the overall strategy for stabilizing the country.