Gordon Brown says British troops still have an "important job to do" in Iraq and refuses to set a timetable for their withdrawal.

But concerns continue to grow about the UK's ability to sustain its military campaigns in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

With reports of intensified attacks on British forces in southern Iraq, is the Prime Minister right to keep the troops in combat, or should they be on the first plane home?

Could their remaining actually exacerbate the situation in a country said to be on the verge of civil war?

Comments

[Basil Carlston Sep 17, 2007 8:24:20 PM]

As a ex soldier I do not believe that the troops should be brought back until the commanders (ours) say that the job has been done. That said, the operational and equipment restrictions in place should be released. Our soldiers should not have to operate with one hand tied behind their backs.

[Caroline in Wiltshire Sep 14, 2007 10:12:41 AM]

Yes they should, i think we've done as much as we can out there!

Why can't our armed forces be used to protect their own country rather than being used to protect everyone else's?

[Ray Lincoln Sep 5, 2007 11:52:18 PM]

Most definately British troops should come back fro Iraq.
Ray

[Gary /stoke on trent Sep 4, 2007 2:54:20 PM]

The Government never gave the troops the tools to do the job. It always wants to do things on the cheap. Except when it comes to their pay and pensions. The war must have cost the UK tax payer billions, and like the investment in the National health, only companys and beaurocrats seemed to have benefitted.

[Claire, London Sep 3, 2007 1:15:29 PM]

I think that it is about time we brought our brave soldiers home from both Iraq and Afghanistan. They are only there because our Government were too weak to say no President Bush. No contingency plan was formulated for after the war and now our troops are suffering. They are among the best forces in the world but our Government do not provide them with the right equipment for the job which puts them in even more danger.

[sandra davies Sep 3, 2007 11:22:56 AM]

i think if you pull out you will be giving in to iraq and they will think they can do as they like, but i do think our soldiers should be remembered and we should have a color top day so every friday should be a blue top day, blue so that prayers will come true

[Liz Kent Sep 3, 2007 9:38:18 AM]

We cannot do anymore out there if we stay much longer we will be taking over, the Iraqui's have to take control of their own country, we have done our best to steer them in the right direction and train their army and police, now it is up to them, they know they can call on us to help if the job gets too hard, that should be enough, it is time for our troops to come home.

[andrew - blackpool Sep 1, 2007 7:42:24 AM]

bring the boys back home.they don't want them to be there,the iraqi's don't want them there.Only the politicians of the world want this crazy war to continue simply because it deflects problems away from homesoil.

[lori wirral Aug 31, 2007 2:13:44 AM]

yes of course they should come home. they should never of been sent to begin with. enough now.

[Geoff Pearse Aug 30, 2007 4:50:39 PM]

Another death today. Apparently on 'security patrol' Is this the 'job we still have to do' being used as an excuse by Brown to refuse to bring our troops out.It is obvious to the public that the only reason the government want to keep the few that are left in Basra is to save face. Even Blair has admitted we were wrong to go in so stop this useless loss of more lives now.

[Niall, Ireland Aug 30, 2007 11:05:53 AM]

NO Britain should not recall its troops from Iraq.

The American and british policy makers caused this huge mess over there, now you can clean it up.

Besides that; running home with your tail between your legs is sending out the wrong message to other terrorist groups. Do you really want the likes of the Taliban claiming that they beat you into a withdrawal situation?

I didn't think so.

Niall

Ps. To all the troups out there- You're doing a fantastic job with the limited resources available.

[Marina South Africa Aug 30, 2007 7:07:10 AM]

Each country should deal with its own problems and conflicts, this is mainly a religious war and has nothing to do with any other nation. British troops would be better utilized protecting there own country and citizens. How many shootings have taken place over the last two weeks?, surely there expertise could be more helpful in assisting the police to track down those responsible and making Britan a safer place for its own citizens. How can the government warrant the deaths of young men who hardly even understand or for that matter even care what the conflicts are about? I say 'send them home!!!' and let the Iraqians sort out there own problems.

[Mark Solomon, Alicante, Spain Aug 29, 2007 8:03:06 PM]

We should stay in Iraq till the job is done whatever it costs otherwise it will be a defeat that will cost us dear in the long run. The job is done when there is a functioning democratic government and people are not killing each other on the streets. Actually Iraq should be broken up as one of the artificial creations of World War One (like Yugoslavia, USSR and Czechoslovakia), even if it means giving Iran the Shia bit.

Afghanistan we should withdraw from tomorrow. We have invaded it three times in our history and have always come off worse - about time we learned. Anyway, the job is done there, the Taliban are no longer the government.

[Ian High Wycombe Aug 29, 2007 2:18:15 PM]

The troops should have gone in done their jobs and be home already. The fact that they are still there is nothing more than bad planning by the military officals.
The government takes its information from the high ranking officers who supposedly know what is the correct thing to do.
Why is it we blame the government when it is the Generals and their superiors who did not plan well enough for what to do after winning and did not build a proper exit strategy.
Now they blame the government and bad weapons to make us forget, they did not do their job in getting the troops back home.

[Bugsy Aug 29, 2007 12:05:53 PM]

There are too few personnel now to be effective in combating the constant attacks and our equipment is not safe enough to protect our forces at the "sharp end". Sadam has been removed so our forces have carried out and helped in the objective now it is time to leave the Iraqi's to govern their democratic land in peace.

[Julia, Catterick Aug 29, 2007 9:00:14 AM]

Our Government should immediately stop telling lies about their illegal war and stop wasting the health and lives of our troops. Don't we all know it is not about the people, but about the stacks of cash some fat cats draw out of this raped country? I am convinced it would be a whole different story if children of MPs and Royals would get a first hand taste of Iraq, but they rather stay at home and at their Unis. Hypocrites!

[Robert Spiteri / Malta Aug 28, 2007 8:39:59 PM]

I think that the British troops should be pulled out and let the country sort itself out on their own. I think that already there has been enough loss of good soldiers lives, they have done more then their share. Their objective was to over throw the Sadam'regime and that they have done. sO NOW ITS TIME THEY SHOULD BE PULLED OUT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

[SpencerJohnstone, Falkirk Aug 28, 2007 4:03:27 PM]

Those troops should never have been in Iraq in the first place. It is time for them to be withdrawn from Iraq. How many more of our soldiers be killed before the PM will open his eyes. Mr Brown should be ashamed of himself.

[Jon, London Aug 28, 2007 2:04:29 PM]

Message to the Labour government. If the troops have to stay in Iraq (and Afghanistan) how about you start equiping and treating them properly.

For those who have tragically died how about you start catching up with the massive backlog of coroners inquests so their families can finally try & move on.

[John in Portugal Aug 28, 2007 2:04:00 PM]

Hello

If we are going to ask our brave armed forces to enter these war zones.

Why do we not provide them with adequate equipment to do the job

Almost every day you here of car bombs or road side bombs killing Troops

The Americans have good armour on their vehicles but the British are driving around in some cases in antiquated vehicles

Why do we need contact countries like South Africa and buy the type of vehicles designed by them to handle these types of attacks

Give the troops a fighting chance to survive please Mr Brown

And finally we should be on the first plane home and leave this lot to it SORRY

[Khalid Aug 28, 2007 1:24:37 PM]

Well "Paul Young" unless the insurgents give a concrete commitment to stop such intensifed attacks immediately, and for the next generation to come,surely to tell the troops to "Come Back And Stay" would be the most welcome of news, would it not?