[NYTr] rit PM to Troops: 'Your Iraq War Is Over'

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Dave Muller  - activ-l

The Sun Dec 10, 1007

'leave her and go'.
Happy Xmas, your war is over!

By DAVID WOODING
Whitehall Editor

GORDON Brown yesterday delivered a stirring festive message to Our Boys 
in Iraq: Happy Christmas  war is over.

The PM was cheered as he praised UK troops and revealed combat 
operations in Basra will end within two weeks.

Iraqi forces will take over as the 4,500-strong British force switches 
from front-line duties to a training role.

By early next year, our contingent in Southern Iraq will be cut to
2,500 and may be withdrawn completely in March.

The PM broke the good news in a flying visit to Iraq.

He landed at the Army s base at Basra airport in darkness in an RAF 
Hercules transporter plane.

Minutes later he spoke to Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki.

He then gave a rousing speech to 300 squaddies after shaking hands with 
them

To warm applause, he told them the region  the last under British 
control in Iraq  would be handed back to the Iraqis in a fortnight.

He said: The Prime Minister of Iraq has asked me to pass on his thanks 
to you for helping to rebuild the democracy of Iraq.

This is because of the operations over the last month that you have 
been involved in.

The security situation has not only improved, but he is able to tell me 
he will now be recommending a move to a provisional Iraqi control
within two weeks.

Attacks

Iraqis can take far more control of their country.

Mr Brown quoted Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Montgomery as
he thanked Our Boys for their courage and bravery.

He said: The British people are so grateful for all you do . . . we are 
incredibly proud of what you have done. The whole British people are 
proud of everything you achieved here Thank you very much and happy 
Christmas to you all.

Click here to find out more!

Since Our Boys withdrew from Basras city centre and palace to the 
airport a few miles away back in September attacks on them have fallen 
by 90 per cent.

They have been helping to train 30,000 police and armed forces during 
rebuilding operations.

It is thought they will only be recalled to the front if there is a 
major post-handover incident coupled with a direct plea from Iraqi
generals.

Several hundred may be stationed in neighbouring Kuwait early next year.

Before flying out, Mr Brown insisted five Brits kidnapped in Iraqs 
capital Baghdad in May must be freed immediately.

The kidnappers warned last week the men will be killed unless troops
are withdrawn, but Mr Brown said he would not be forced into changing
his policies in the country.

He added: The taking of hostages is completely unacceptable. We are 
demanding the immediate release

MR Brown could do a Maggie and defy the latest polls to win the next 
election, his closest ally claimed yesterday.

Childrens Secretary Ed Balls said Margaret Thatcher led the Tories out 
of the Westland helicopter crisis and the loss of Cabinet ministers in 
1986 to a landslide general election victory in 1987.