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Should UK withdraw from Iraq?

Some comments from the British Public

Is the time right for troops to come home?

Tony Blair is expected to announce a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq. Send us your reaction.

The prime minister is due to make an announcement in the House of Commons in which he is expected clarify the details.

It is thought he will say 1,500 troops are expected to return home in months, rising to 3,000 by Christmas.

What do you think of the expected announcement? Do you know anyone who serves in the military? Send us your views and experiences.

Published: Tuesday, 20 February, 2007, 22:19 GMT 22:19 UK

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Number of Comments: 68

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:55 GMT 09:55 UK

Whether the environment will be right for the projected withdrawal is very dependent on circumstances.Hardly a success though, is it? - hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead, extremist terrorists in a country where they weren't before, many Iraqis living in exile, lack of services, an effective civil war, Iraq's missing billions etc Along with pulling out, we should compensate Iraq heavily for what we have done & also open our doors to the exiles Jordan&Syria are taking as a result of our actions

Jason Parkes, Worcester, UK

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:54 GMT 09:54 UK

In reply to those in the United States who believe we are leaving them to pick up the pieces by withdrawing troops.

Troops are only withdrawn when Iraqi security forces are able to effectively take on the task previously performed by troops. Then the withdrawl will not leave a hole, but is simply a hand over to local forces. This principle applies to US and UK forces.

The fact of the matter is simply that for various reasons Basra is in a position to hand over, whereas Bagdad is not.

Neil Kiley, Fort Worth, United States

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:50 GMT 09:50 UK

Lets remember to thank the soldiers who having been doing a difficult and unpopular job. My understanding is that they achieved more in the "hearts and minds" area than their American colleagues. This may be an educational issue.Is the time right to bring them home? It has to be an operational decision. One would hope that troops would not be pulled out just for domestic poltical reasons.I totally opposed the war but I also oppose leaving Iraqis in the lurch.

Philby bradlaugh, United Kingdom

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:45 GMT 09:45 UK

Its not time for the security forces to pull out. The British should rid the trouble that innocent people of Iraq are witnessing daily. while we have the resourses to help I beleive that it is are duty to help those less fortunate and make a peaceful and greater Iraq.
lets back Tony Blair as regarding the British forces the Prime minister is doing the right thing.

jay blundell, wakefield

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:45 GMT 09:45 UK

Our devoted forces have exhuasted their proffession and now are baby sitting another country that should be helping itself with greater conviction, while we are stil dying for the few that are still terrifying their own country, enough is enough, let our people come home.

white, medway

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:37 GMT 09:37 UK

You invaded illegally, made a mess, and now you want to leave. What a brave attitude...

Elias Kostopoulos, Athens, Greece

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:33 GMT 09:33 UK

Over 600K Iraqi civilians are dead, 2 million have fled the country, and an additional 2 million are internally displaced. That's a total of 17% of the Iraqi population that has either been killed or forced to seek refuge, equivalent to around 10 million people in the UK. I can't imagine that many Britons would consider that a reasonable sacrifice for "freedom," which the Iraqi people were promised and still do not have. It's time for us to leave, along with all other coalition troops.

Gemma Keats, Cambridge, United Kingdom

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:31 GMT 09:31 UK

British Forces are the finest in the world, despite their size, poor equipment and a Government which treats them with such contempt. The mess which has been created by Blair and Bush cannot be contained by force, there are not enough troops on the ground. Let the Americans sort out their own mess, if we have got the Iraqis to a stage where they can handle some of the work, it is time for us to go. Politics needs to take over. We need REAL leaders with clout not Blair/Brown to deliver peace

Chris Parker, Bucks

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:26 GMT 09:26 UK

At the end of the day the general public aren't in a position to know all the details and make a decision. We need to leave the government and the millitry to make this decision themselves rather than us lot making ill informed decisions based on our personal views.
It does seem though that everything has gone to plan. I remember when we went in to Iraq we were told it could take many years before the iraqi security forces could take control and the british could begin a phased withdrawl.

Mark, Manchester

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 09:01 GMT 09:01 UK

It has been a dreadful mistake to go into Iraq. Better the devil you know... I believe the soldiers who are withdrawn from Iraq will, after some leave and more training be sent straight out to Afghanistan for 6 months. The point is that we need more tropps, but who wants to join an Army where the quality of life for many means they only get to see there families for six months a year (or less). Some will say "thats what they joined for", but believe me, true, but not to this extreme.

Keith, Germany

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 08:59 GMT 08:59 UK

Should never have gone in the first place.
Lets hope this is the start of the reversal of the damage Blair & his policies have done to this once proud isle.

James Ferguey, Essex, United Kingdom

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 08:59 GMT 08:59 UK

Its a difficult question - bringing our troops home would mean that there would be no more UK deaths but would result in anarchy and bloodshed in Iraq on an almost biblical proportion. Let the relatives of those out there choose, I have nobody out there and have little to lose.

Anon, Wales

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 08:56 GMT 08:56 UK

It's way to late considering they should never have been there anyway! However, to leave the USA in there on their own would be a bigger mistake than withdrawing completely.
I believe as a NATO force there should be a multi national policing force to support the Iraqis now and they're going to need supprot for many more years to come.
You will never stamp out terrorism as these people live for it, its in their blood to do nothing else.

[Julian44], Ashford, United Kingdom

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 08:44 GMT 08:44 UK

First, I'm a pacifist and detest war, but I was in Damascus for a while recently and met a few Iraqi refugees. I'm pleased to say they spoke very highly of the British troops, often contrasting them favourably to US soldiers, who, they said, were trigger-happy and rude.

Credit where credit is due. Most UK troops have conducted themselves with professional restraint and decency under extremely difficult conditions. Well done lads and Thank You.

Joseph Public, Manchester

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Added: Wednesday, 21 February, 2007, 08:32 GMT 08:32 UK

The Iraq war has been a disaster, we have created the conditions for the civil war and replaced an anti Shia dictator with a Shia led government. The only gainers in the long term will be Iran. British troops are merely delaying the time when the Shia militia take over the south.

Ian Baildon, Bradford, United Kingdom

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