I don't see how the UK will be able to save any face with this withdrawl. No matter what the original strategy was, the world will likely see this withdrawl as a British retreat in ignominious defeat. It will only be a matter of time before Iran comes out and claims that it 'defeated' Britain in a head-to-head fight.

GI, Atlanta, USA/Georgia

Ian from Texas, I agree completely. It's quite sad to see this happening. It reminds me of Mohammed Ali getting pummeled in his fianl fight, to see a once great nation brought to its knees by a bunch of rag-tag militiamen.

Scott, Dayton, USA

As an ex- army medic, It would be interesting to find out how many of our soldiers have been injured, we often here of the sad and needless deaths of our service men and women. We never here about the casualties of the bloody war. Now that the service hospitals have been closed and some real estate sold off, what are these brave British service personnel returning to. After all the NHS is commented on as in crisis.

Mike Harries, Swansea, Wales

Ben Horner--USi-Says:
" It doesn't matter when Britain or America pulls out. Pulling out is likely to cause much bloodshed, more than staying, amongst both our troops and the Iraqis."-U big Fool ! I guess going in there and killing them was OK with you.
America/ UK has killed millions in it's past pirating agendas.Even back in 1815, USA bombed the hell out of Algeria. I ask the American and the Brit supporters of invasions invasions--What business is it of yours to plunder other far away countries,have you no shame?
Let's assume that it is proven that Arabs did not pull of the 911 bombings but Israel did. By the way only Israel has the means, contacts to have pulled the caper off. Now, would we nuke Israel- and stay put-?--
But knowing Americans as saps- we would thank them and give them more money.

jojo, toronto, canada

Captured by Iranians, chased out of Iraq, what is going on in Great Britain ? Now you're being attacked on your home turf, repeatedly and there isn't anywhere to retreat to. Let your soldiers fight for God's sake ! Your political leadership is allowing your troops to be picked off piece meal.This isn't the Great Britain I know and love.You have brave, strong, courageous troops, sailors, pilots who are more than capable of defeating these stone age tribesmen, you must let them fight. Have you learned nothing from the bombings in London, the attempted bombing this summer ? They are coming after you whether you want it or not, you fight them today or tomorrow but fight them you will.They think we are Godless infidels, and that we are corrupt.You can blame Iraq, but you would be naive in thinking so.If you leave Basra, do so on your own terms, don't be chased out or you embolden the enemy.Don't let your brave soldiers die in vain.Britain isn't called Great for nothing, or is it ?

Ian Turner, Austin, Texas, USA

We were recently told by some "wise" old British general that Americans needed to learn from the British how to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqis. His advice was for Americans to wear soft hats and acquire a superior knowledge of Iraqi culture like the Brits. So, what happened? Don't let the door hit you on the way out, wise 'ol general.

Robert Burnett, Las Vevas, NevadaI I

The GOP is not in the position it was when Mr Blair and Pre. Bush were so chummy. Mr Brown's in charge now and is very much his own man. Time to show the US we personally have made enough sacrifices in their war, take the lead , and get out now. Mr Bush is a discredited President as shown by his own voters recently.
The Iraq people clearly do not want us there, democracy has a hollow ring in Iraq. They are a relatively new country and have to find their own feet in what they want, we are not the Victorian Empire any more, ourselves. Our own government is so hard up , they have found a new quarter to squeeze with stealth taxes. Pensioners, poor as we are already, and heading for the bread line are now being taxed on private pensions at the rate of 22%. I have three small pensions, paid for over the thirty years I was in business and netting around £5000 per year. Hardly anything to shout about but who can live a life on the gov. pension of about the same amount. Money goes nowhere .

Brian Seals, Scarborough, Nth Yorks, England

Another retreat under siege by the British Army! Just like Aden,
Cyprus Egypt Palestine and so many other hot spots last century but at least in those we were there by our own choice and clearing up our own business. In Iraq and Afghanistan we are there at the bidding of the US oil and Jewish lobbies. It's a disgrace and I had hoped Gordon Brown would havef elt the mood of this country better. Get us out Mr. Brown, more deaths there are just not justifiable for "face" with the Americans. Why do we have to jump when the Americans shout? I don't see the French, Germans, Italians or indeed any other EU states rushing to get involved. Why us?

John Radford, Lowestoft, England

It doesn't matter when Britain or America pulls out. Pulling out is likely to cause much bloodshed, more than staying, amongst both our troops and the Iraqis.

Ben Horner, United States,

The idea of staying more and more and giving the liberty to the Iraqis are not the real solution of this meaningless war.The more the English and American forces stay , the more they will have casualties in recent days.However,the stability in Iraq hasnt been provided these both powers and they've made a situation in Middle East which is impossible to sort out.People are hopeless of the future of the region and fighting each other without any understandable reason.As all people concern, USA is there to control the energy policy of the region and other leading countries such as Russia and Iran which seems very dangerous attempt to me.If the current situation continious like that,there will be any peace hope in the region and in the world as well. Actually I dont want to draw a picture of pessimism but it is the view of today !!!

Arslan Bugra, Adana, Turkey

If Brown made a deal with Bush to leave UK troops in Iraq until after the September report to the US Congress, he has donated the lives of 5-10 more Brits to the illegal cause. I would have expected much more from Brown who now has a chance to redirect and correct the UK mission. This invasion of a sovereign country and the ensuing death of military and civilians has numbed the Western public phychic to the value of "one human life" taught by the Judeo-Christian fatih. Brown should have learned his Presbyterian Sunday School lessons better.

JDChapman, Penticton, Canada,

This smacks of Gordon Brown lacking the balls to go it alone and waiting for Bush to give him the OK to leave the stage. To any sane person except perhaps George Bush, Tony Blair, Dick Cheyney and a few of their acolytes, everyone else accepts that Iraq is now a lost cause and has to be left to the Iraqi's to sort out for themselves. Bush's ill fated surge was in reality not even a ripple and its time for both leaders to at least save the lives of their own troops rather than let this war of civil attrition continue. There is absolutely no chance of Bush, Blair, Brown or Cheyney, coming out of this smelling of roses so why do we have to sacrifice even more young soldiers for these megalomaniacs. Gordon Brown should stand up and be a man and unilaterally pull out but I suspect that like Blair he lacks the backbone or courage to do the right thing. Being the paymaster for this failed venture he's got just as much blood on his hands as Blair has and should be judged accordingly.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

Surely it did not need the top brass of the Army to realise that we made a mistake in Iraq -and in Afghanistan for that matter?
One's heart goes out to the families of men and women whose deaths have now become an almost daily footnote to the trivia which makes up most of the so-called news bulletins on radio and television. Macchiavelli gets a bad press these days, but he was right to state that the first duty of the ruler is to protect the interests of his subjects. What possible interests can the UK have in Iraq- unless you see the invasion as a long term strategy to ensure a supply of oil. in which case we need a cartoonist of great talent to rework the famous Daily Mirror wartime image of the sailor giving his life for our essential supplies.

Asmodeus, London,

Big Gordon will be thinking about the forthcoming Blair war crimes trial in Scotland.
Brown will obviously be called to give evidence for his friend Blair.
If Brown had the balls he would have ousted Blair years ago so saying no to Bush is not on the cards.
The generals should start withdrawal without waiting for a signal from labours stooges.

john garrett, colombo, sri lanka

Tony Blair could have done that. I thought that's why you got a new PM.

L>R>, San Diego, USA/ CA