US President George W. Bush is not worrying about Britain's
partial withdrawal from Iraq, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino
said Tuesday.
Speaking at a news briefing, Perino denied that the Bush
administration is disappointed with Britain's sharp cut in British
troop levels in Iraq.
Britain's move "was consistent with what we knew that they were
going to be announcing," the spokeswoman noted.
"We understand General (David) Petraeus is comfortable with it;
therefore, the president is, too," she said, referring to the top
US commander in Iraq.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in a statement to
parliament Monday that Britain will reduce its force in Iraq -- now
numbering about 5,500 -- to 2,500 troops from Spring 2008.
Britain has long been a staunch ally of the United States, and
supports the Iraq war launched by the Bush administration.
The White House said last week that it has no objections to
Britain's plan to withdraw 1,000 troops out of Basra in southern
Iraq by Christmas.
"The Iraqi security forces have been working with the British
there in Basra, and they've been working to get to this point,
where the Iraqis say they are able to take over the security,"
Perino said last week.
(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2007)
