Iraq to British Troops: Go Home

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki dismisses the need for 4100 British troops to stay in Iraq. He said "We thank them for the role they have played, but I think that their stay is not necessary for maintaining security and control." The UN mandate that authorizes the presence of US and British troops in Iraq expires at the end of 2008. The BBC reports that Al-Maliki also expressed dismay that negotiations for extending the authorization for British troops to remain in Iraq had not even begun, while similar negotiations to extend the authorization of US troops are well underway. It is widely expected that a reduced force of British troops will remain in Iraq into at least 2009.

Al-Maliki Says British Troops Withdrew from Violence

Al-Maliki, according to the BBC, sharply criticized the British for removing forces from the troubled downtown Basra area to a base further from the city. Al-Maliki said that the British "stayed away from the confrontation, which gave the gangs and militia the chance to control the city. The situation deteriorated so badly that corrupted youths were carrying swords and cutting the throats of women and children. The citizens of Basra called out for our help." If that is indeed the kind of aid being provided, one can certainly see why the Iraqi Prime Minister would seem to discount the need for a continued British military presence.

British Spokesman: The Strategy was Jointly Decided and Successful

However, a British military spokesman countered that "Our presence in Basra city was a motivating factor for a large proportion of the violence in Basra, and the decision to withdraw UK forces allowed the Iraqi Security Forces to develop lasting solutions to the security challenges in Basra." He also said the decision to withdraw British troops from downtown Basra was made with US and Iraqi government representation.

Is Al-Maliki's Dismissal of British Troops a Political Move?

It's not clear from the two sides being presented, just how much of Al-Maliki's statement is being made for domestic consumption as he struggles to convince the region that Iraq's government is being run independently and is not controlled by the occupying foreign forces. The Times Online reports that neighboring Iran has been trying strenuously to convince Iraq to let the UN authorization for foreign troops in Iraq to expire at the end of the year, claiming that the US has too much control over the Iraqi government's decision-making.

2009 May See US Troop Reductions

With this kind of pressure, al-Maliki's dismissal of British troops can be seen as a political move. The 4100 British troops can be removed from a region in which Iraqi forces have largely assumed control without any severe consequences, while the bulk of American forces stay on. This provides the Iraqi Prime Minister with the appearance of autonomy to his Middle East neighbors and the Iraqi people, without any real change in the current military situation. Depending upon the outcome of the US presidential elections this fall, 2009 may see some significant US troop reductions further bolstering Al-Maliki's political position - as long as the Iraqi forces are adequate to the task of preventing the violence from escalating further.

Sources:
timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article4916538.ece
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7666876.stm