[NYTr] Britain will withdraw troops from Iraq regardless of US, says PM

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Simon McGuinness

["Full and frank discussions" is a term usually reserved by diplomats to
describe blazing rows that take place behind closed doors.  Those were
the words used by the British PM to describe their 4 hour meeting.  No
wonder Bush looked dishevelled at the press conference and insisted on
driving the kart away.  He may have lost the argument over Iraq, but he
sure as hell was going to be seen in the driving seat on the world's TV
sets.  Grasping at straws perhaps? -SMcG]


The Independent - 31 July 2007 
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2819582.ece

Britain will take troops out of Iraq regardless of US, says PM 

By Andrew Grice
Political Editor at Camp David 

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.

Mr Brown's willingness to pursue an independent British policy in Iraq
will be seen as an important break with Tony Blair. Mr Brown said the
two leaders had had "full and frank discussions" - diplomatic code for
some disagreements.

President Bush heaped praise on Mr Brown after their first meeting since
he became Prime Minister, playing down suggestions that Mr Blair's
departure would weaken the strong US-UK partnership. Revealingly, Mr
Brown did not return the personal compliments, instead focusing on the
historic links between the two countries and predicting they would get
even stronger. This reflected his desire for a more business-like
relationship with the President, instead of the strong personal bond
forged by Mr Blair.

The two leaders also had to paper over their different approaches on how
to respond to terrorism. While maintaining a united front, Mr Brown told
President Bush that the fight could not be won by military might alone,
and called for a "Cold War-style" propaganda battle in the Muslim world.

Deliberately avoiding the phrase "war on terror," Mr Brown said:
"Terrorism is not a cause but a crime - a crime against humanity." In
contrast, the President spoke of "this war against extremists and
radicals". But he said of Mr Brown: "There is no doubt in my mind that
he understands the stakes in the struggle."

On Iraq, Mr Brown insisted Britain would honour its responsibilities but
admitted there had been problems with political reconciliation and that
the reconstruction effort had taken longer than expected.

He said that Britain's decision in the Basra region would be based on
the military advice from its commanders on the ground. Later, British
officials insisted that the departure timetable was not being
accelerated and said it was too soon to speculate on the plans that
would be set out in October. Initially, they would mean handing military
control to the Iraqis and moving to "overwatch".

However, President Bush acknowledged that a British withdrawal could
take place while the US remained in Iraq because, he said, decisions
would be "results-orientated". He said America could be there for "a
long time". He added that America's next moves would be decided after a
report in September by General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq,
on the "surge" of US troops in the Baghdad region.

But despite their differences over Iraq and terrorism, the two leaders
agreed to work together to end the stalemate over a new world trade
agreement, to resolve the crisis in Darfur and impose a new round of
sanctions against Iran unless it halts its nuclear weapons programme.

Bush on Brown

* "I would describe Gordon Brown as a principled man who really wants to
get something done."

* "Not a dour Scot ...not an awkward Scot...a humorous Scot."

* "He's got a strong commitment to helping people realize the blessing
of education. I thank you very much for that vision."

* "He's a glass half full man."

* [Referring to the death of Brown's 10 day old baby in 2002]

"He's a man who's suffered unspeakable tragedy - it's strengthened his
soul.

I was impressed."

Brown on Bush

* "We have had full and frank discussions. We have had the capacity and
ability to meet yesterday for two hours to discuss person-to-person some
of the great issues of our time."