The UK Telegraph reveals an unlikely “fact“:
All British and United States troops serving in Iraq will be withdrawn within a year in an effort to bring peace and stability to the country.
The news came as defence chiefs admitted privately that the British troop commitment in Afghanistan may last for up to 10 years.
The planned pull-out from Iraq follows the acceptance by London and Washington that the presence of the coalition, mainly composed of British and US troops, is now seen as the main obstacle to peace.
All troops withdrawn? Well, not exactly:
The Sunday Telegraph understands that coalition forces, comprising troops from 24 countries, will begin to reduce their presence on the ground markedly over the next few months.
They will withdraw to their bases, where they will in effect become a garrison force to be deployed only in emergency.
If “Coalition” forces are truly acknowledging that their presence is fuelling the occupation, progress is being made. However, it is inconceivable that the US and/or the UK would fully withdraw all troops from the country. They know that a fully independent Iraq, closely aligned with Iran, would never allow them back in. Besides, what are all those private defence contractors going to do? Fight in the next imperial war, I guess.
Incidentally, if UK defence chiefs admit that their mission in Afghanistan may last for up to 10 years, what about Australian troops in the country? Have we made an open-ended commitment?