U.S. fears pullout of British troops by Blair successor

U.S. officials are bracing for the prospect that Gordon Brown — Tony Blair’s almost certain successor as British prime minister — will act quickly to reduce his country’s military commitment in Iraq.

President Bush has been briefed by White House officials to expect an announcement from Mr. Brown during his first 100 days in power on British troop withdrawals. Such a move would be designed to boost the new prime minister’s popularity in opinion polls.

Mr. Bush recently discussed with a senior White House adviser how to handle the fallout if the U.S. were to lose its main ally in Iraq.

A source close to Mr. Brown insisted that such U.S. fears are “unfounded.”

“Gordon is a committed Atlanticist who wants to strengthen and deepen our ties with America around our shared values, and who wants to persuade the rest of Europe to work in closer cooperation with America,” he said.

Mr. Brown, speaking at a Labor Party event yesterday, defended the decision to go to war in Iraq but seemed to leave the door open to reassessing the extent of Britain’s commitment.

“The number of troops that started off was 44,000, and there are now just 7,000, and that number continues to go down,” he said in response to shouts of “Get the troops out.”

“I am going to go out to Iraq and look at the situation and see what is happening,” Mr. Brown said.

A close ally of Mr. Brown called over the weekend for British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq more quickly.

“We should get out of Iraq as soon as is practicable,” said Nigel Griffiths, a former Cabinet minister, who resigned as deputy speaker of the House of Commons over a decision to replace the Trident nuclear-weapons system.

“We should consult the Iraqi government — but they cannot have a veto. This cannot be delayed. We must make our timetable known to the Iraqis.”

During a “farewell trip” to Iraq over the weekend, Mr. Blair said his successor would continue his policy.

“I have no doubt at all that Britain will remain steadfast in its support for Iraq, for the Iraqi people and for the Iraqi government as it tries to make sure it overcomes the threat of terrorism and continues to make progress,” Mr. Blair said shortly after a mortar attack on Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone.

“The policy I pursue is one for the whole of the government, so even when I leave government, I am sure that support will continue.”

However, senior figures in the National Security Council, the Pentagon and the State Department have privately expressed fears about Mr. Brown.

Story Continues →