Once again the Union Jack falls in the dust.

Allan, Bellevue, WA USA

I thought that they stated that the UK was redeploying these forces to Afganistan !

Nicklan, Washington, USA

It appears to me that despite all the effort of the British government and news media so present this as a non defeat withdrawal this is actually an evidence to the complete lack of compitency by the British Troops to control the situation in Basra. Any failure by the so called best troops in the world to control an organised but poorly equiped group of militants is pure defeat.

Andreas Andreou, Nottingham, UK

The Brits are not retreating and if one looks at where they are being redeployed you will see they have not moved very far away. Should the UK Forces leave Iraq they will be still have a significant level of troops based in Kuwait. All this talk of retreat and admitting defeat is complete nonsense.

Kevin, Wellington, NZ

Mr Fletcher should make up his mind.

"Basra's residents expressing pride and satisfaction" at the militia's driving the British out one minute, then voicing fears that the very same militias will increase the number of kidnappings and killings. It would seem that the residents of Basra have got exactly what they both want and deserve.

Now exactly why our troops in Iraq must sit there couped up in the Airport and serve as a target for any Iraqi militia mortar team I can't really fathom. My advice to Gordon Brown is get them out of there as soon as possible. If Iraqi policemen and soldiers require training then the Iraqi's can send them to the UK, we'll train them here.

Bill W, Stavanger, Norway

I think greatest thing we suffered was loss of our reputation. On top of losing our brave men, we lost not only the war but our standing in the world. This is the result of the mistake of blinding following US into an illegal war. US is now planning war with Iran, I think we did good to get out of the way; and we should not get involved with disasterous US policies again. Britain should look after its own interests and not take part in future conflicts unless they are approved by UN.

Z Hussain, Rochdale, UK

James from Edinburgh,

You're right, British troops are being redeployed to Afghanistan in much larger numbers. I agree that the war in Afghanistan is the REAL war on terror and I thank you and your country for your service. But Iraq cannot become a lost cause for the sake of that entire region.

Alex, Seattle, USA

Delicious !
The Iraquis have booted the British out !

Let the world rejoice !

Ramas, Sydney, Australia

Didn't quite make the front page, did it?

A bit timid about this story, are we?

B-Bye, lads!

Don't feel glum. You did a bang up job againts the Argies, didn't you then.

gary , austin, TX, USA

Alex from Seattle:
The British troops will be redeployed to Afghanistan to make up in part for the American troops who have left to contribute to the 'surge' in Iraq. Afghanistan is the real war and it is accepted by most in this country that we will be there for the next thirty years.

I, myself will be there next year.

James , Edinburgh, UK

Or was it just a rehearsal for the Pirates of Penzance?

Cyber Peece, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

The thought that withdrawing troops from this militia-infested city will somehow lead to a reduction of violence would be funny if it weren't so sad. As a matter of fact, this strategy is "intellectually bankrupt." What do you think the militias are going to do, kiss and make up? More than 75% of Iraq's oil is in this part of the country; who ever controls that oil, will have unstoppable power. I just hope the Brits don't retreat from Afghanistan as well.

Alex, Seattle, USA

The British military withdrawl is a very wise move. It is time for the Iraqis to pick up the ball. Now if only America would take a hint!

Kim Righetti, Upland, Calif. USA

The decree that Paul Bremner signed about the privatisation of Iraqi Oil and Iraqi State assets is worthless and not worth anything. You see there is a secular majority in the region that equally is heavily influenced by Iran whom would encourage the state control of Oil Assets.
Thus in my view the Iraq Privatisation Program was not only illegal under International Law as there was no referendum for the people -giving legal consent but also a very false premise.
The Privatisation of Iraq project drew in speculators and money men like a Gold Rush.
What was remarkable was that coalition forces were just compliments to the Bremner decree with the privatisation advocates believing that the Privatisation project would work.
Thus focus of the UN resolutions objective were lost as the main considerations in the background was to prop up the privatisation projects again another false dawn.
On the for front was a PR campaign of nation building and democracy building like a fracade.

The Director, LONDON, England