Brits Know When Enough Is Enough

From Air America Radio...

Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that a reduction of British troops in Iraq could be possible because of the improving conditions in Iraq. Brown said that by next spring, British forces would operate almost exclusively as trainers. As that shift occurred, he said, Britain would decrease its troops from 5,500 -- the level at the beginning of September -- to 4,500 by the end of the year, then to 4,000 and eventually 2,500 in spring. He continued: "And then in the second stage of overwatch from the spring and guided as always by the advice of our military commanders, reduce to around 2,500 troops with a further decision about the next phase made then.”

Did You Know - British Pull Back In Iraq

As the British pull back from their positions in Iraq, it's interesting to watch who takes over. The pro-war groups tell us that the south of Iraq is relatively peaceful and that none of the sectarian violence exists there, but that may not be the case for long. There's a lot more to this story, if it interests you - see the link below the quotes.

BASRA, Iraq: Shiite militiamen from the Mahdi Army took over the police joint command center in Basra on Sunday after British soldiers withdrew from the facility and handed control to the Iraqi police, witnesses said.

Police left the building when the militiamen, loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, arrived, the witnesses said.

The British military disputed the reports, saying they had been in contact with the Iraqi general in charge of security in Basra, who has said the Mahdi Army was not there.

But the witnesses said the Mahdi Army emptied the building — taking generators, computers, furniture and even cars, saying it was war booty — and remained there in the early evening.

The British military had maintained a small number of soldiers at the command center to help train Iraqi police.

From Daily Kos.