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.
Plus the war in Iraq is unpopular in England. If Gordon Brown wants to win an election, he’ll have to pull out the troops, probably within a year.