OOPS!!

Ever the showman, Gordon Brown produced with a flourish a surprise Christmas present for the British Army.

A reduction of 1,000 troops in Iraq as the fourth and final southern province controlled by British forces is handed back to the locals.

It was a gesture typical of a politician renowned during his days as chancellor for pulling unlikely economic rabbits out of his budget-day hat.

But is the announcement all it seems? Are we really at the beginning of the end of this divisive episode?

Less violence

Critics may detect a sleight-of-hand. Of the 1,000 troops to be withdrawn, 500 were already due to pull out and 4,500 will remain.

SeeBBC link for full story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7024595.stm