Posted on 05/20/2007 12:06:43 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
US President George W. Bush has been told to prepare for British U-turn on Iraq once Gordon Brown becomes prime minister, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper said. Mr Bush has been briefed by White House officials to expect an announcement on British troop withdrawals during Brown's first 100 days in office, the weekly said.
The president was advised on how to handle the aftermath of a British pullout and the end of steadfast support from London, said the broadsheet, citing senior officials.
Outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to step down on June 27 after a decade in power, with finance minister Brown set to take over.
Under Mr Blair, Britain has been the United States' staunchest ally in the war in Iraq and its key partner in the decision to invade the country in March 2003.
Senior officials in the US National Security Council, the Pentagon and the State Department have expressed their fears about Brown, The Sunday Telegraph said.
"There is a sense of foreboding,'' an unnamed senior official was quoted as saying.
"We don't know if he will be there when we need him. We expect a gesture that will greatly weaken the United States government's position.''
And Mark Kirk, a congressman in Bush's Republican party who discussed Iraq policy at the White House last week, said: "The American view is that's he's a much weaker political leader than Blair. "There's the fear in Washington that he won't be as strong an ally.''
Mr Blair was in Washington this week for his last talks with Mr Bush, before jetting to Iraq for talks with political leaders in Baghdad and a visit to British troops in the main southern city of Basra.
"I have no doubt at all that Britain will remain steadfast in its support for Iraq,''
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
‘We would do better without them.’
You certainly couldn’t do any worse. . . . .
Or it could be the Adminitsration floating a trial ballon in order to pressure Brown to make his position clear.
If you think david cameron will be a decent leader, you’re out of your mind.
As for this story, I think people need to take a look at the source.
The daily telegraph which had been a pretty strong Brown noser for some years.
Don’t read too much into this, we’re not going to pull put until the job is done.
Stop getting taken in by the headlines of a leftist paper with an agenda.
Brown is a clever man, and he knows full well that cut run and surrender is not a realistic option.
Have a little bit more faith in us.
It seems everytime some loony newspaper puts out a negative story, us Brits get stabbed in the back.
You don’t believe half the sh** that comes out of your journalists, so don’t believe ours either, they’re just as bad, possibly worse.
LIBERAL media LIES! They even admit to it in the text. Someone pointed out the exact wording already!
LLS
Well said.
We’ll declare victory and leave. I’d hate to be the last one on the KIA list.
Don't worry Wolfie, when we leave there will plenty of death to go around. Something tells me that the last man on the KIA list won't be in Iraq either.
Blair has tolerated Islamic immigration, suppressed free speech against the Islamic invasion of England, and championed the UK’s sovereignty surrender to the EU. He’s a multiculturalist/globalist, and I’m glad to see him going.
That was probably the point of Blair’s visit, to quietly give Bush the bad news in order to give him some time to plan for it. Well, if this is the Brits’ new position, then good luck to them in the future...they’re going to need it with the Royal Navy all but mothballed.
The Royal Navy who conducted themselves so valiantly when confronted by their kidnapping foes, mothballed? Surely you jest.
A bunch of speculation, based on a belief that Blair would lie about future support.
At least Blair supported our countries actions fighting terror in Iraq. It's rumored that Brown will take the Soros approach.
Seems like you are making a very good point. Just want you to know it didn’t fall entirely on deaf ears. Thanks.
And then there were none. Why is everyone out of step, but us?
One globalist taking the high road, the other taking the low road: same destination.
THIS THREAD DOES NOTHING BUT FURTHER THE LIE. HOW ABOUT CHANGING THE TITLE? PEOPLE READ THE TITLE AND BELIEVE IT AS TRUTH.
We could do a lot worse, it could be as pathetic as the Falklands was, but still the Brits were nice to have by our side...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.