Britain to Cut Iraq Troops by 10 Percent

guardian: Britain announced cuts in its forces in Iraq on Monday by 10 percent and has begun handing over their duties to Iraqi security forces, despite spasms of violence in recent weeks that have pushed the country closer to civil war.
Defense Secretary John Reid told the House of Commons that the reduction of 800 soldiers was possible because Iraqi security forces are becoming more capable of handling security in Iraq's southern Basra region.
"This is a significant reduction which is based largely on the ability of the Iraqis themselves to participate and defend themselves against terrorism,'' Reid said. "But there is a long, long way to go."
The move was announced despite growing doubts about the reliability of Iraqi security forces in the Basra area, especially the police, which British officials believe have been heavily infiltrated by Shiite militiamen. Read more

db: The militias are in control - we are hated - and the UK is commited to deploy in Afghanistan. Hence it is time to GTFO. Hapless Iraqi forces notwithstanding.