CAIRO, July 10, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A leaked British Defense Ministry memo show that both London and Washington are preparing to cult their troops in Iraq by more than half in 2006, a leading British newspaper said Sunday, July 10.

The document, written by Defense Secretary John Reid for Prime Minister Tony Blair, said Britain would reduce its troops from 8,500 to 3,000 by the middle of next year, reported the Mail on Sunday.

"We have a commitment to hand over to Iraqi control in Al-Muthanna and Maysan provinces [two of the four provinces under British control in southern Iraq] in October 2005 and in the other two, Dhi Qar and Basra, in April 2006.

"This in turn should lead to a reduction in the total level of UK commitment in Iraq to around 3,000 personnel by mid 2006," read the memo, entitled Options For Future UK Force Posture In Iraq.

Reid confirmed the leaked document was genuine, saying his proposal is part of "prudent planning" and is not yet a "ministeriallly endorsed position" or government policy.

"No decision on the future force posture of UK forces has been taken.

"We 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."

The leaked document is the first conclusive proof that preparations for a major withdrawal from Iraq are well advanced.

Reid, significantly, made no secret the serious impact on other foreign troops in the areas under British control, including a 550-strong Japanese contingent and 1,400 Australian soldiers.

"The Japanese will be reluctant to stay if protection is solely provided by the Iraqis. The Australian position may also be uncertain."

The withdrawal plan, however, was opposed by some British Army chiefs.

One senior officer said Reid had no option but to recall 3,000 British troops in October as Britain has already promised to send an extra 3,000 personnel to southern Afghanistan to replace US soldiers.

"The momentum for this is more to do with pressure from America and the woefully overstretched British Army than whether Iraq is ready to look after itself," said the source. "The timing seems very convenient."

The memo said Washington is planning to cut its forces to 66,000 from about 140,000 by early 2006. (Reuters)

The British document also said that the US plans to cut its forces to 66,000 from about 140,000 by early 2006.

"Emerging US plans assume 14 out of 18 provinces could be handed over to Iraqi control by early 2006," it added.

The memo noted that US President George Bush's allies in the Pentagon and Central Command are at odds with army chiefs in Iraq, who fear it is too soon to withdraw in such large numbers.

A death toll of up to 1,600 US soldiers in two years has raised the alarm in the US with Democrat and Republican lawmakers rethinking support for the war and pressing for a specific withdrawal timetable.

Recent opinion polls indicated that almost six in 10 Americans want at least a partial pullout from occupied Iraq.

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