New British PM to Accelerate Departure from Iraq

By Scott Horton

London’s Sunday Telegraph reports that incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown, whose arrival at No. 10 Downing Street is now just one month off, has decided to accelerate the pace of the British draw-down of forces from Iraq and “cool down” cooperation with Washington in the Middle East. The decision has already been briefed to the National Security Council in Washington, the publication reports.

Gordon Brown is prepared to risk the future of the “special relationship” with the United States by reversing Tony Blair’s support for the Iraq war, President George W Bush has been warned. Gordon Brown is expected to announce British troop withdrawals.

He has been briefed by White House officials to expect an announcement on British troop withdrawals from Mr Brown during his first 100 days in power. It would be designed to boost the new prime minister’s popularity in the opinion polls.