Some British troops to leave Afghanistan

LONDON, May 18 (UPI) -- Prime Minister David Cameron says a small British withdrawal from Afghanistan will take place this year.

Cameron told the House of Commons Tuesday, "There will be around 400 troops, perhaps slightly more, coming out of Afghanistan in the coming year," The Sun reported.

But, he added, "Our enduring force level remains at 9,500. I'm sure the Americans understand that it's less than the reductions they are planning."

U.S. President Barack Obama visits Britain next week, and Cameron has pledged to coordinate Afghan policy with him.

The Defense Ministry said most of the troops will come from the Royal Air Force regiment defending Kandahar airfield and the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps at NATO headquarters in Kabul.

A spokesman said, "These were time-limited, task-specific roles which have now come to an end."

Col. Stuart Tootal, a former paratroop commander, was not pleased.

"We should only get out when the job is done properly," he told The Sun. "We are on the right track, but if we take our foot off the gas now, we risk all the success and investment we have achieved so far."

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/05/18/Some-British-troops-to-leave-Afghanistan/UPI-50971305737856/.