Secret withdrawal from Iraq ‘planned’
Britain and America are planning to reduce their troop levels in Iraq, according to a leaked document obtained by a Sunday newspaper.
The memo, authored by defence secretary Dr John Reid, said the number of British soldiers serving in the Gulf could be cut from 8,500 to 3,000 by the middle of 2006.
The paper, obtained by the Mail on Sunday, also outlines US plans to reduce its troop numbers from 176,000 to 66,000.
The document, entitled Options for Future UK Force Posture in Iraq, and marked Secret: UK Eyes Only, said Britain wanted to hand over the southern provinces of Al Muthanna and Maysan to Iraqi control in October 2005.
Under the plan, the other two provinces currently under British control, Dhi Qar and Basra, would be transferred to Iraqi control in April 2006.
“This should lead to a reduction in the total level of UK commitment in Iraq to around 3,000 personnel, ie small scale,” the document said.
It was also suggested that the US planned to hand over control of 14 of the 18 Iraqi provinces they command by early 2006.
Responding to the leaked memo, Dr Reid, who confirmed that he drew up the proposals, insisted the government was taking part in “prudent planning” and said the paper was just one of many documents setting out possible options for Britain and America to pursue in Iraq.
He stressed that British troops would remain in Iraq “for as long as is needed.”
“We have made it absolutely plain we will stay in Iraq for as long as is needed. No decision on the future force posture of UK forces has been taken,” said the defence secretary.
“We have always said it is our intention to hand over the lead in fighting terrorists to Iraqi security forces as their capability increases.”
“We therefore continually produce papers outlining possible options and contingencies. This is but one of a number of such papers produced over recent months covering various scenarios. This is prudent planning.”
A spokesman for the Pentagon told the Reuters news agency that he was unaware of the document, which suggests that Washington and US commanders in Iraq are divided over the plans.
“I am not aware of any decided upon timeline [for a withdrawal of troops] or that memorandum in particular,” said lieutenant commander Joe Carpenter.
The Ministry of Defence document suggests that reducing British troop levels in Iraq could save about £500 million a year.
