The American Electorate Hold the Real Power Over Any Withdrawal Timetable

Summary

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IN 1968, despite the "great victory" reports of the US media, the American public didn't buy what they were being told about the Vietnam war. Some 38 years and another war on, they're not buying again. Despite Tony Blair continuing to sell the "extraordinary achievement" of post-war Iraq, his sales pitch last week in the Commons hinted that Washington may have given him notice that their joint strategy was no longer going to fetch the top dollar it once did.

Anticipating what is likely to come out of the White House over the next few weeks, Blair said that over the next "12 to 18 months" Britain would begin withdrawing troops. He said that as the coalition was able to cede control to the Iraqis "we do so". But, he added, there was going to be no premature withdrawal, because that would prove disastrous.

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The American Electorate Hold the Real Power Over Any Withdrawal Timetable

But there is nothing happening in Iraq that points to a withdrawal in the near future; and Bush or Blair being able to say "job done" is not on anyone's radar. If no military ob...

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