Britain's next Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, arrived in Iraq
yesterday for what he called a fact-finding trip as he weighs
Britain's future involvement in a four-year-old war that is hugely
unpopular among Britons.
It is his first visit since being confirmed as the successor to
Tony Blair, whose popularity at home waned over his steadfast
support for the US-led war. Brown said he wanted to "listen and
learn" before taking office on June 27.
"I'm here to... see what's happening with Al-Qaida... in
relation to Iran... to the sectarian conflicts, to see all the
people on the ground and make an assessment of what's happening so
I'm better informed," Brown, Britain's finance minister, told
reporters traveling with him.
Brown has said he wants to suggest new ideas but has ruled out
an immediate pullout of British troops. That has not stopped the
British media speculating he may speed up the withdrawal to assuage
public anger.
He has always accepted responsibility for the Cabinet decision
to invade Iraq but has also said mistakes were made in the
aftermath of the invasion. On a farewell visit to Iraq last month
Blair said he had no regrets about his part in the war.
Brown's visit comes as the size of the British force in Iraq is
being reduced by about 1,500 soldiers to 5,500 troops.
Brown, who was accompanied by Defense Minister Des Browne, held
talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal
Talabani, the top British general in Iraq, US commander General
David Petraeus and the US ambassador.
In his talks with Maliki, Brown urged national reconciliation
between Iraq's warring sides.
British forces have handed over security responsibility to
Iraqis in three of the four provinces they were in. The remaining
southern province of Basra is due to be transferred in the coming
months.
Brown has said he will reduce troop numbers as and when
possible, but aides say he is unlikely to make any big sudden
shifts in policy as the British military is already planning
further cutbacks.
(China Daily June 12, 2007)
