It’s interesting how you picked certain quotes to post. I found these from the same AP article.
Quote:
|
"We have recently seen intensive deployment for Iraqi security troops - this indicates that the Iraqi troops are in full control of the situation," he told AP Television. "So the British troops pullout won't cause a vacuum in the area - our security troops are carrying out their duty well."
|
Quote:
|
Britain's Defense Ministry said in a statement that U.S. officials had been consulted over the plan, and offered assurances that there was still a large enough British presence in the area to provide security.
|
Quote:
|
British forces will operate from Basra Air Station, but "retain security responsibility for Basra until we hand over to provincial Iraqi control, which we anticipate in the autumn," the statement said.
|
Basically the Brits only moved across town and will oversee the transition of security in Basra to Iraqi forces. Looking at the DOD link below most of the southern part of Iraq has already been turned over to Iraqi forces and Basra is in the most southern tip on the map.
The Iraqi Army: A Year of Progress - U.S. Department of Defense Official Website
This has been the plan all along and progress is continuing to be made despite what you may hear from the defeatists in Washington and the media. Here’s the official press release from the Defense Ministry.
Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Basra Palace handover statement