US 'will not stop' British pull-out at Basra Palace

If this report is correct then Brown is wasting no time in putting a great distance between himself and the previous policies of Blair.

The Independent is reporting that British troops are to be pulled from Basra Palace - a position that the US are keen for us not to give up because it allows them to watch Iran - and that the withdrawal will take place, "within days or weeks".

Senior government sources confirmed yesterday that this decision will not be "swayed by domestic political considerations" – including relations with the US.

Defence ministry insiders confirmed last night that Britain plans to stick to its timetable to pull out of its stronghold at Basra Palace "within days or weeks", despite misgivings from US military and government figures that local Iraqi forces are not ready to take control.

US commanders in Baghdad want Britain to delay the pull-out of 500 British troops, fearing the Iraqi security services are not sufficiently well trained or equipped to control lawlessness.

But in frank discussions between British and American military commanders on the ground, Britain has made it clear it believes the Iraqis are perfectly capable of taking over as early as next week.

The very fact that they are referring to discussions between British and American commanders as "frank" gives some indication of how badly the coalition is now starting to fracture.

Relations with the US over British tactics in Basra have been strained since Jack Keane, a retired US general who has just returned from Iraq, said that the British were more focused on training Iraqi troops than keeping control of "deteriorating security".

He compared the situation in Basra to "almost gangland warfare", provoking an angry response from the Army spokesman in Basra, who said the UK was giving the Iraqis "space" to take the lead in policing the city.

This open warfare between British and US commanders is an indication of the level of anger felt by both sides. The US have been throwing around claims that the British have been "defeated" in Basra as a way of making the Brits stay and conform to an American timetable, which basically states that no-one leaves Iraq until President Bush can pass this whole dreary mess on to his successor.

Gordon Brown, having seen what conducting British foreign policy to an American timetable did to the Premiership of Tony Blair, was always unlikely to play the game the way Bush would have liked.

However, Brown has recently been advised by British commanders that he should withdraw British troops from Iraq "without delay" as Britain can achieve "nothing more" in that country.

It would appear that by removing British troops to the airport, Brown is taking the first steps towards removing them entirely.

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