U.K. Ends Its Combat Role In Iraq

(CBS/AP)  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Thursday that U.K. forces have ended their combat operations in Iraq.

Brown said British combat patrols in Basra will end as the troops prepare to leave the country.

He made the announcement Thursday after meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in London.

The Iraqi leader said his forces were "ready" to take over responsibility for security in Basra.

It was not immediately clear how many British forces were likely to remain in Iraq in support and training roles.

Meanwhile, in Basra, the British military held a ceremony to honor the 179 British soldiers who died during the war.

The official end of Britain's combat role comes during a spike in violence in Iraq.

Two car bombs tore through a crowded commercial district in Baghdad's main Shiite district on Wednesday, killing at least 41 people, Iraqi police said.

The blasts went off in quick succession less than a week after bombings claimed more than 150 lives over a two-day span. The attacks have raised fears that suspected Sunni insurgents are regrouping and trying to reignite sectarian strife as the U.S. military begins its own withdrawal.

[zwaggsy]

It would have been nice to think that Gordon Brown was sincere in his statements that Iraq is ready for a bright new future. Unfortunately it's nothing more than a pathetic attempt to claw back some popularity back home (and save some money).

[labrat9999]

Hey Trust_me...I understand most Republicans can't read or write but you should try a little harder to at least watch the news and listen. Hopefully the US is leaving Iraq too. And if you didn't know Dictator Bush and Darth Vader Cheney are no longer in office...which means their war policies no longer apply...like staying in Iraq.

[ajjaxtheleast]

Past war criminals are turning over in their graves.

To see a country go through all the trouble of illegally blasting their
way into a another country, directly and indirectly killing a hundred
thousand of that country's citizens, shunning the spoils to stand at
some ceremonial wall breaking their arms patting themselves on
the back then honoring their fallen war criminal invaders packing up
and spliting the country is enough to make those in the
war criminal trade shake their heads in disbelief.

They could at least have left with an olive from
one of Saddam's olive trees.

[daffy64]

I bet Britain is glad to be out of this fruitless nightmare. So glad that we in Canada gave the whole thing a "thanks but no thanks".

[Trust_me_]

I thought that the Obamas went to the UK and they all fell in love with us.
What happened to all the help they said they would give us for the Ipod and dvd`s?

[hungry1968-15]

"U.K. Ends Its Combat Role In Iraq"




It must be nice.