Monday, December 04, 2006
Blair to meet Bush this week
U.S., U.K.
Tony Blair will fly to Washington this week for a summit with President George W Bush to discuss the gradual handover of Iraq, amid renewed doubts about Britain’s influence over the US, write David Cracknell and Sarah Baxter. The prime minister will travel to the White House on Wednesday for a two-day visit, with attention likely to be focused on the publication of a major review of US policy in Iraq. The report of the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by James Baker, the former secretary of state, will suggest gradually phasing the mission of US troops in Iraq from combat to training and supporting Iraqi units.
Blair’s visit is likely to be dominated by the issue. Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, announced last month that British troops could pass responsibility to Iraqi forces early next year. The prime minister is also likely to face awkward questions about how much influence he has over the White House. Kendall Myers, a State Department official, said last week the special relationship between Britain and America was “totally one-sided”. A British official suggested that Blair might offer to be a “bridge” between the United States, Syria and Iran. But Bush is resisting efforts by the Iraq Study Group to pressure his administration into talks.
Britain and America are still acting in tandem. A planned British withdrawal from Basra in the spring of 2007 is to be matched in the US-run Kurdish regions. But any hardline stance by Bush against the Baker recommendations could significantly delay the eventual departure of British troops from Iraq and cause further problems for British commanders stretched for personnel in Afghanistan. If Bush insists that US forces must stay in Iraq British troops are likely to remain, at least until he leaves office at the start of 2009, simply to protect US lines of supply from Kuwait.
Blair’s visit is likely to be dominated by the issue. Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, announced last month that British troops could pass responsibility to Iraqi forces early next year. The prime minister is also likely to face awkward questions about how much influence he has over the White House. Kendall Myers, a State Department official, said last week the special relationship between Britain and America was “totally one-sided”. A British official suggested that Blair might offer to be a “bridge” between the United States, Syria and Iran. But Bush is resisting efforts by the Iraq Study Group to pressure his administration into talks.
Britain and America are still acting in tandem. A planned British withdrawal from Basra in the spring of 2007 is to be matched in the US-run Kurdish regions. But any hardline stance by Bush against the Baker recommendations could significantly delay the eventual departure of British troops from Iraq and cause further problems for British commanders stretched for personnel in Afghanistan. If Bush insists that US forces must stay in Iraq British troops are likely to remain, at least until he leaves office at the start of 2009, simply to protect US lines of supply from Kuwait.
