It’s a new dawn, but for Iraq or Labour?

THE phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq marks a turning point in the conflict.

Pressure has been growing on the Government to come up with an Iraq exit strategy the longer the war — now in its fourth year — has dragged on.

Last year Defence Secretary Des Browne refused to bow to pressure from critics to pull out of Iraq, insisting British forces would leave only “when the job is done”.

Tony Blair has previously insisted premature withdrawal from Iraq would be disastrous and no quarter would be given in the battle against extremists.

Mr Blair has stood shoulder to shoulder with US president George Bush for much of the conflict, but recently there have been signs of a split.

Late last year Mr Blair embraced a report by US independent commission the Iraq Study Group which recommended a prompt withdrawal of troops from Iraq, while Mr bush appeared to distance himself from the report.

Worsening violence in the US sectors of Iraq has seen America pledge another 21,500 troops to tackling sectarian violence, despite calls from the US public for American soldiers to be sent home. By contrast, relative calm in British-controlled southern Iraq has paved the way for yesterday’s announcement.

Yesterday’s announcement came as mourners gathered for the funeral of 21-year-old Private Luke Simpson in a small town on Yorkshire.

The British leader said the young soldier had died for a “safer and more secure world”.

His announcement of the phased withdrawal was carefully timed. It was dictated in equal measure by growing military pressure and Blair’s desire to save his legacy, analysts believe.

Blair, due to leave office this year, clearly has his own legacy and the political future of his Labour Party in mind, given the deep unpopularity of the Iraq war and the prospect of devastating Labour losses in local elections in May.