Memo leak
The week's news at a glance.
London
The U.S. and U.K. are planning to withdraw most of their troops from Iraq within the next year, according to a British Defense Ministry memo leaked to the London Mail on Sunday this week. The memo from British Defense Secretary John Reid to Prime Minister Tony Blair, marked “Secret—U.K. Eyes Only,” says that U.S. officials want to “significantly reduce” the American presence in Iraq. It outlines a timetable for cutting the total number of coalition troops from 160,000 to 66,000 by next summer. But it also notes that, unlike political leaders in Washington, U.S. commanders on the ground in Iraq do not believe troops can safely be withdrawn that soon. Pentagon officials refused to comment on the memo, but a spokesman noted that “at any given time, there are a number of plans, for all sorts of developments, good or bad.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Another day of chaos in DC'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Labour's Brexit conundrum
The Explainer Keir Starmer backs 'twin track' strategy – build closer security ties with EU while ruling out single market, customs union and free movement
By The Week UK Published
-
6 scenic white water rafting destinations to get your heart racing
The Week Recommends Have a rip-roaring time on the water
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published