Britain's next Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, arrived in Iraq yesterday for what he called a fact-finding trip as he weighs Britain's future involvement in a four-year-old war that is hugely unpopular among Britons.
It is his first visit since being confirmed as the successor to Tony Blair, whose popularity at home waned over his steadfast support for the US-led war. Brown said he wanted to "listen and learn" before taking office on June 27.
"I'm here to... see what's happening with Al-Qaida... in relation to Iran... to the sectarian conflicts, to see all the people on the ground and make an assessment of what's happening so I'm better informed," Brown, Britain's finance minister, told reporters traveling with him.
Brown has said he wants to suggest new ideas but has ruled out an immediate pullout of British troops. That has not stopped the British media speculating he may speed up the withdrawal to assuage public anger.
He has always accepted responsibility for the Cabinet decision to invade Iraq but has also said mistakes were made in the aftermath of the invasion. On a farewell visit to Iraq last month Blair said he had no regrets about his part in the war.
Brown's visit comes as the size of the British force in Iraq is being reduced by about 1,500 soldiers to 5,500 troops.
Brown, who was accompanied by Defense Minister Des Browne, held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, the top British general in Iraq, US commander General David Petraeus and the US ambassador.
In his talks with Maliki, Brown urged national reconciliation between Iraq's warring sides.
British forces have handed over security responsibility to Iraqis in three of the four provinces they were in. The remaining southern province of Basra is due to be transferred in the coming months.
Brown has said he will reduce troop numbers as and when possible, but aides say he is unlikely to make any big sudden shifts in policy as the British military is already planning further cutbacks.
(China Daily June 12, 2007)
