"Mr Brown’s refusal to let Mr Blair take Britain into the euro is an example of that; it has proved a great national benefit."

Perhaps you would care to explain all the considerations of advantage and disadvantage, political, economic and social, that have led you to feel able to make such an unqualified statement as this one.

Simon Stephenson, Windermere, UK

I lived in London for two years. If I hadn't been invited to leave by the Home Office I would still be living in Pimlico.

But I am deeply concerned about the European reaction to Bush's tenure generally and Britain's reaction in particular. Bush truly is the American version of Stalin. The contempt he shows for the international community and the rule of law is quite real. If you notice the effect of the Bush doctrine of preemptive war and the kid napping of foreign nationals reflects a contempt for the sovereignty of other nations.

In effect, he has extended the Monroe doctrine to the world. Residents of Britain may think of themselves as subjects of the Crown, but ultimate sovereignty rest with the President of United States, who like Cesar is the unlimited sovereign of the empire's external possessions. Any night CIA contractors could whisk any one of you away to Guantanamo. Why doesn't Europe do anything to protect its sovereignty?

Charlie Marques, San Diego/Tijuana, California USA/Mexico

I would expect Mr. Brown to do what he genuinely believes is right. Electoral calculations shouldn't influence decisions regarding an issue as serious as Iraq. If he comes to the conclusion that withdrawing British troops from Iraq is the best course to take, for the sake of Iraqi and therefore British interests, then that's what he should do. Otherwise it would make more sense to stay the course while it feels necessary. In the latter case, all Mr. Brown would be able to do is to explain his motives thouroughly to the British public. Tony Blair has soaked up so much hatred, most of which would have been better directed towards the murderous thugs that terrify the streets of Baghdad day and night, that we might get a chance to have a more reasonable debate once he is gone.

Andre de Souza, London, UK

...Excellent and astute observation, Paddy of Borehamwood.

My question to Mr 'Moral Compass' Brown is why, just a day after he committed himself to the restoration of parliament's integrity, he chose to absent himself from Parliament and the MPs FOI vote. I had an open mind about him until that moment - he's now lost my respect for the remainder of his caretaker time as PM.

Trevor Dunn, Grantham, UK

Adrian Gilbert, Brown pulls out the troops, civil war, price of oil jumps, tax revenue rises, blame the Iraquis for the rising price of petrol. Why wouldn't Brown want to pull out the troops?

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Handing interest rates to the Bank of England is considered as decisive !

From that moment onwards we saw dither and bluster at number 11. Coupled by some pretty pathetic ideas from Gordon Brown.

Are Tax Credits considered decisive ? The tax on pension funds or baby bonds ?? The sale of gold reserves at knock down prices ?

Decisive ? or is it a matter of 'Fools rush in ' ??

David, Swindon , Wiltshire

We went into Iraq together, we should leave Iraq together.

J Seymour, London, England

WRM has been wrong-footed by Gordon Brown on this one. Didn't he hear Mr Brown yesterday, after evicting a protester to the presence of our troops in Iraq, stating that he was in agreement with Bliar's decision to send troops out to Iraq and that he would not change what he considered to be a correct policy, even with the benefit of hindsight?

Perhaps WRM submitted his article before Gordon's "We woz right " speech.

Edward Willhoft, Epsom, UK

Removing our troops from Iraq, even if deploying them to Afghanistan, is both the "right thing" to do, and also politically smart. It's a "win-win" all round. The only person who won't like it is GB, but who cares about a President with domestic approval ratings down in the 30%'s and under seige from a Democratic Congress?

Paul Middleton, Yorkshire, UK

"Mr Brown was not enthusiastic for the invasion of Iraq. He had to give the policy his support; indeed, he had to vote for it. Otherwise he would have had to resign, like Robin Cook. Yet his endorsement was reluctant and minimalist."

So, his job came before his principles?
What kind of "moral compass" is that?

Paddy, Borehamwood,

Yes, but what happens if Brown withdraws British forces from Iraq and that country collapses into civil war? In that case the Oil supply from not just iraq itself but the whole region could be jeopadised. Result? A price hike in the cost of petrol and heating oil and disatisfaction among consumers. Not a very attractive climate in which to call a general election.

My hunch is that Brown will do nothing. His instinct is caution and right now the cautious thing is to leave british troops in Iraq. That may cost him the election in two years time but as we all know, a week is a long time in politics and two years and eternity.

Adrian Gilbert, Tonbridge, England

Imagine you are a German student of International Politics, taking your final exams, and the first question on your examination paper opens with a quotation from the above article in The Times: "The euro counted as finance, so Mr. Brown was able to decide that policy. Iraq was foreign affairs, so Iraq was Blair's responsibility." The question goes on to give the student the following task: "Explain, with reference to the above quotation, the hierarchy of responsibility in the United Kingdom Cabinet, paying particular attention to the tasks of Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary".

Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England

In my view there is no danger of Brown withdrawing British troops from Iraq, except in very limited numbers. After all he has Blair's legacy to protect as well as the strategic importance the disposition of Coalition Forces has in the Middle-East.. All this will have have been well dictated to him by the New Labour caucas and Allied Intelligence Directorates prior to the change-over.

Robert , Kirk Ella., East Yorks.,

I think you're right when you say that Brown will be more concerned with the next president. He'll be keeping his head down and hoping the democrats or a less extreme republican wins rather than doing anything positive to sort the mess out himself.

Mark, Newcastle, England,

As far as the great stock market collapse is concened........ probably just around the corner!!!

Neil , KL, Malaysia

How do you know that the UK would not have done better if it had adopted the Euro?

Then again where is the great collapse in world stock markets that you were predicting a few years ago?

Marek, London, UK

The stated policy of the Govt is already one of gradual withdrawal, with a phased take-up of security management by the Iraqis themselves. Sounds like what your journalist says Brown is going to announce as a "new approach" .
People of Britain, and of Iraq - don't expect miracles !!

Brian Clapson, Trebeurden, France

Assuming whatever Bush used to blackmail Blair doesn't work on Brown. The three "B's"; is there a clue there?

Andrew Milner, Karuizawa, Nagano

"Mr Brown was not enthusiastic for the invasion of Iraq. He had to give the policy his support; indeed, he had to vote for it. Otherwise he would have had to resign, like Robin Cook."

So, war as an act of personal political expediency. If this is true then Mr Brown's vaunted Moral Compass needs some severe adjustment.

Bruce, UK, Malvern,

There's a certain amount of double-think in this article. On the one hand, "Britain has earned the reputation in the United States of being a loyal ally, and we must retain that." On the other, "Mr Brown has an opportunity to show that he is a decisive leader, not afraid of the anger of President Bush." Just shows how easy it is, being a columnist and never having to choose between two incompatible goals.

I think the political dividend of withdrawal will last as long as it takes for southern Iraq to fall into the hands of the militias and the elected Iraqi government to accuse Britain of betraying democracy.

The political dividends of appeasement are never more than short-term.

HarryG, London,