British Troops To Delay Iraq Exit
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
BAGHDAD — Britain froze plans yesterday to withdraw about 1,500 soldiers this spring after the faltering effort to drive Shiite militias from Basra raised doubts whether the Iraqis are capable of maintaining security in oil-rich southern Iraq.
The British decision was announced in London one week before the top American commander in Iraq appears before Congress to offer his recommendation on how fast America should draw down its own forces.
Defense Secretary Gates said Monday in Copenhagen, Denmark, that last week’s violence in Shiite areas had not changed American plans to withdraw more combat forces by July.
But second thoughts about Iraqi security capabilities emerged as Iraq’s government reported a 50% rise in the number of people killed in March over February.
Much of the increase was a result of the fighting between Iraqi government forces and Shiite militiamen in the southern city of Basra. The conflict quickly spread, engulfing Baghdad and major cities throughout the Shiite south. Britain had planned to drawn down its 4,000-strong military force in southern Iraq to 2,500 over the next few months, handing over more security responsibility to the Iraqis.
In the wake of the Basra fighting, however, Defense Secretary Des Browne told the House of Commons, “It is prudent that we pause any further reductions while the current situation is unfolding.”
“At this stage we intend to keep our forces at their current levels of around 4,000 as we work with our coalition partners and with the Iraqis to assess future requirements,” Mr. Browne said, promising to update lawmakers later this month.
Mr. Browne offered no criticism of the Iraqi effort in Basra, launched March 25 to regain control of the country’s second-largest city from Shiite militias and criminal gangs, which have effectively ruled the streets for nearly three years.
The operation faltered in the face of fierce resistance from the Mahdi Army of the anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, forcing the Iraqi military to turn to American jets and British tanks and artillery to try to dislodge the gunmen from their strongholds.
