Via The Telegraph:
Gordon Brown is prepared to risk the future of the "special relationship" with the United States by reversing Tony Blair's support for the Iraq war, President George W Bush has been warned.
He has been briefed by White House officials to expect an announcement on British troop withdrawals from Mr Brown during his first 100 days in power. It would be designed to boost the new prime minister's popularity in the opinion polls.
Details of the talks came as a close ally of Mr Brown called for a quicker withdrawal of British troops. Nigel Griffiths, a former minister, said: "We should get out of Iraq as soon as is practicable. We should consult the Iraqi government - but they cannot have a veto. This cannot be delayed." Read more...
Watching George Bush's final press conference with Tony Blair was painful to watch, but it's nothing like the pain he'll likely feel when Gordon Brown takes the reins next month. This isn't new news for Bush, as Brown will merely be continuing Blair's plan to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq as announced earlier this year. Blair will likely get a pass, but the White House is already starting to frame the issue by suggesting that a pullout of British troops would be a political stunt by Brown. Let the swiftboating begin...
