U.K. memo: U.S. hopes to halve Iraq force

updated 4:10 p.m. ET July 11, 2005

LONDON - Britain and the U.S. are trying to build a new strategy to exit Iraq that could see British troops leaving the country by Christmas, a newspaper reported citing a government memo written by the defense secretary.

The Mail on Sunday reported that British Defense Secretary John Reid drafted a secret paper for Prime Minister Tony Blair outlining how most of the country’s 8,500 troops could be sent home from Iraq within three months, with the rest by the end of the year.

The document also said the U.S. was looking to cut back its own troop levels to 66,000, down from the 135,000 there now.

‘No decisions ... taken’
But in a statement released by Britain Defense Ministry, Reid said the document was simply one of several period updates examining possible scenarios for the war in Iraq.

“We have made it absolutely plain that we will stay in Iraq for as long as is needed,” Reid said in a statement. “No decisions on the future force posture of UK forces have been taken.”

In a copy of the letter, portions of which were printed by the newspaper and marked “Secret — UK Eyes Only,” Reid wrote that there was a strong desire in the U.S. military to reduce the number of its troops in Iraq and hand over security duties to Iraqi forces in 14 of the country’s 18 provinces by the end of the year.

“There is a debate between the Pentagon/CENTCOM who favor a relatively bold reduction, and MNF-I (U.S. commanders in Iraq) whose approach is more cautious,” part of the letter reads.

Support for Britain’s backing of the U.S.-led invasion by the British public has been mixed.

A pair of al-Qaida-inspired groups that claimed responsibility for the bombings that killed 49 people and injured at least 700 on Thursday in London cited the country’s role in Iraq.

Italy plans withdrawal
Earlier this week, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said 300 of Italy’s soldiers would start leaving in September.

Reid, however, said Britain was committed to the coalition.

“We have made it absolutely plain that we will stay in Iraq for as long as is needed,” he said in a statement. “No decisions on the future force posture of UK forces have been taken.”

He added that it has always been the British government’s intent to ultimately hand over the lead in fighting in Iraq to that country’s own forces, when they are ready to assume the responsibility.

“We therefore continually produce papers outlining possible options and contingencies. This is but one of a number of such papers produced over recent months covering various scenarios,” Reid said. “This is prudent planning. I stress again that no decisions on the future force posture of UK forces have been taken.”

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