US Presidential hopeful John McCain, a known Anglophile, visted British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street today.
McCain, who looked quite small standing next to the hulking British Prime Minister, praised British soldiers serving in Iraq....
I understand British frustration with lack of progress in Iraq, McCain admits on visit to No 10
20th March 2008
Daily Mail
US presidential hopeful John McCain today acknowledged the "frustration" of British public opinion at the slow progress of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speaking following talks in Downing Street with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mr McCain praised the "long service and sacrifice" of the British forces in the two countries.
But while he is strongly committed to the US operation in Iraq, he said it was a matter for the British Government how long the UK maintained troops there.
"I believe that that decision is made by the British Government and people," he said.
A surprisingly diminutive John McCain shakes hands with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street today after saying Britain should make its own decision on when to pull out of Iraq
"We appreciate enormously the long service and sacrifice of the British servicemen and women in the military, both in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I fully appreciate that British public opinion has been frustrated by sometimes our lack of progress in both areas.
"All I can do is express my gratitude to the British Government and people, especially the brave young people who are serving."
The two were expected to discuss the global economic turmoil, Afghanistan and Iraq, on the fifth anniversary of the American-led invasion.
The Republican senator, who will take on Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, is also due to have talks with Tory leader David Cameron later today.
John McCain throws reporters a wink as he walks in to Downing Street today
Mr McCain is in London as part of a delegation representing the Senate Armed Services Committee, but his visit will be seen as part of his pre-election bid to show himself as a global statesman.
Senator McCain has already visited Iraq, Jordan and Israel and will go on to France after his visit to the UK during his week-long journey.
He reaffirmed his belief that the US troop "surge" in Iraq had proved a success, however he warned that there was still more to be done in restoring security.
"Al Qaeda is on the run. They are not defeated. We're going to have to continue training the Iraqi military and do what we have been doing if we are going to achieve a stable situation in Iraq," he said.
Mr McCain - who stressed that he was visiting as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee - praised Mr Brown as a strong supporter
"I appreciate very much his commitment to the continued, unique relationship between our two countries which will remain unique. I am a great admirer of the Prime Minister as well," he said.
Mr Brown's meeting today was be his first with Mr McCain. The British leader also has not met with Democratic presidential contender Senator Barack Obama, but is a longtime friend of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton during a visit to the United States in July.
Mr McCain will meet Mr Cameron at his House of Commons office. The Arizona senator addressed an annual rally of Cameron's Conservatives in 2006.
In a meeting with Dimas, Mr McCain was expected to address U.S. climate change policy, European Commission spokeswoman Emilia Hinkkanen said.
"It will be an opportunity to exchange views on the upcoming negotiations on a global and comprehensive climate agreement," she said.
Dimas is attempting to win support from the three remaining major U.S. candidates for president for a plan to establish carbon trading in the U.S. to help cut carbon emissions.
A new American national poll revealed yesterday that Mr McCain would win the presidential election in a hypothetical match-up.
As the war in Iraq reaches its fifth anniversary this week, some facts about the British presence in the war-torn country:
British soldiers in Iraq. A massive 46,000 British soldiers were sent to Iraq when the war started in March 2003. Now, fewer than 4000 remain there. In a poll done in 2007, 43% of Iraqis said that life in Iraq is getting better, and 36% say it's getting worse
• Britain is one of 26 countries which make up the multi-national force in Iraq. It has the second-largest representation in the country - after the U.S.
• At its height - during the early stages of the invasion - the number of British troops in Iraq numbered some 46,000. After the initial invasion, the number dropped to 8,600.
• At present there are around 4,000 British troops in Iraq. There is a commitment for this to fall to around 2,500.
• The overwhelming majority of UK personnel are based in Basra in south east Iraq, with a small number in Baghdad.
• The total number of British military fatalities in Iraq since hostilities began stands at 175.
• The biggest loss of British life in a single incident occurred on January 30, 2005. Nine personnel from the Royal Air Force and one from the Army died when a RAF Hercules crashed 19 miles (30km) north west of Baghdad.
• According to Iraq Body Count, an organisation which cross-checks data from media reports, hospital and morgue records, the civilian death toll stands at between 82,109 to 89,605. Studies by medical journal The Lancet have suggested that the true figure is far higher. Its latest report in October 2006 stated the death toll as 654,965.
• 210 journalists and media assistants have been killed since march 2003, with two missing and 15 others kidnapped, figures from Reporters Without Borders show.
• The UK has pledged a total commitment of £744 million towards reconstruction in Iraq.
• The cost of the war to the UK stood at £956 million for the 2006/07 year. This is down on the £1,311 million recorded in 2003/04.
• Since the start of the war, Britain has had three defence secretaries - Geoff Hoon, John Reid and Des Browne.
• A new Iraqi constitution defining the country as democratic and pluralist was adopted in October 2005.
• Democratic elections held in December 2005 saw 12 million Iraqis - 76 per cent of the electorate - turn out to vote.
• 400,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces have now been trained and equipped by coalition forces.
• Nine out of Iraq's 18 provinces are now under Iraqi control.
• On February 15, 2003 the Stop The War coalition staged the UK's biggest ever demonstration. Organisers claim that up to 2 million people attended the London protest.
• An estimated six to 10 million people participated in protests across the globe on February 15, 2003, making it the largest mass protest movement in history.
• A recent poll commissioned by War On Want found that more people think Britain went into Iraq to gain control of the country's oil than for any other reason.
• A poll of 2,000 Iraqis in 2007 found that 43 per cent said life was better than before the invasion, 36 per cent said it was worse and 22 per cent thought it was roughly the same.
• The same survey, commissioned by the BBC and other Western media, found that 22 per cent of Iraqis supported the presence of coalition forces, with 78 per cent opposing occupying troops.
dailymail.co.uk
McCain, who looked quite small standing next to the hulking British Prime Minister, praised British soldiers serving in Iraq....
I understand British frustration with lack of progress in Iraq, McCain admits on visit to No 10
20th March 2008
Daily Mail
US presidential hopeful John McCain today acknowledged the "frustration" of British public opinion at the slow progress of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speaking following talks in Downing Street with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Mr McCain praised the "long service and sacrifice" of the British forces in the two countries.
But while he is strongly committed to the US operation in Iraq, he said it was a matter for the British Government how long the UK maintained troops there.
"I believe that that decision is made by the British Government and people," he said.
A surprisingly diminutive John McCain shakes hands with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street today after saying Britain should make its own decision on when to pull out of Iraq
"We appreciate enormously the long service and sacrifice of the British servicemen and women in the military, both in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I fully appreciate that British public opinion has been frustrated by sometimes our lack of progress in both areas.
"All I can do is express my gratitude to the British Government and people, especially the brave young people who are serving."
The two were expected to discuss the global economic turmoil, Afghanistan and Iraq, on the fifth anniversary of the American-led invasion.
The Republican senator, who will take on Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton in the race for the White House, is also due to have talks with Tory leader David Cameron later today.
John McCain throws reporters a wink as he walks in to Downing Street today
Mr McCain is in London as part of a delegation representing the Senate Armed Services Committee, but his visit will be seen as part of his pre-election bid to show himself as a global statesman.
Senator McCain has already visited Iraq, Jordan and Israel and will go on to France after his visit to the UK during his week-long journey.
He reaffirmed his belief that the US troop "surge" in Iraq had proved a success, however he warned that there was still more to be done in restoring security.
"Al Qaeda is on the run. They are not defeated. We're going to have to continue training the Iraqi military and do what we have been doing if we are going to achieve a stable situation in Iraq," he said.
Mr McCain - who stressed that he was visiting as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee - praised Mr Brown as a strong supporter
"I appreciate very much his commitment to the continued, unique relationship between our two countries which will remain unique. I am a great admirer of the Prime Minister as well," he said.
Mr Brown's meeting today was be his first with Mr McCain. The British leader also has not met with Democratic presidential contender Senator Barack Obama, but is a longtime friend of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton during a visit to the United States in July.
Mr McCain will meet Mr Cameron at his House of Commons office. The Arizona senator addressed an annual rally of Cameron's Conservatives in 2006.
In a meeting with Dimas, Mr McCain was expected to address U.S. climate change policy, European Commission spokeswoman Emilia Hinkkanen said.
"It will be an opportunity to exchange views on the upcoming negotiations on a global and comprehensive climate agreement," she said.
Dimas is attempting to win support from the three remaining major U.S. candidates for president for a plan to establish carbon trading in the U.S. to help cut carbon emissions.
A new American national poll revealed yesterday that Mr McCain would win the presidential election in a hypothetical match-up.
As the war in Iraq reaches its fifth anniversary this week, some facts about the British presence in the war-torn country:
British soldiers in Iraq. A massive 46,000 British soldiers were sent to Iraq when the war started in March 2003. Now, fewer than 4000 remain there. In a poll done in 2007, 43% of Iraqis said that life in Iraq is getting better, and 36% say it's getting worse
• Britain is one of 26 countries which make up the multi-national force in Iraq. It has the second-largest representation in the country - after the U.S.
• At its height - during the early stages of the invasion - the number of British troops in Iraq numbered some 46,000. After the initial invasion, the number dropped to 8,600.
• At present there are around 4,000 British troops in Iraq. There is a commitment for this to fall to around 2,500.
• The overwhelming majority of UK personnel are based in Basra in south east Iraq, with a small number in Baghdad.
• The total number of British military fatalities in Iraq since hostilities began stands at 175.
• The biggest loss of British life in a single incident occurred on January 30, 2005. Nine personnel from the Royal Air Force and one from the Army died when a RAF Hercules crashed 19 miles (30km) north west of Baghdad.
• According to Iraq Body Count, an organisation which cross-checks data from media reports, hospital and morgue records, the civilian death toll stands at between 82,109 to 89,605. Studies by medical journal The Lancet have suggested that the true figure is far higher. Its latest report in October 2006 stated the death toll as 654,965.
• 210 journalists and media assistants have been killed since march 2003, with two missing and 15 others kidnapped, figures from Reporters Without Borders show.
• The UK has pledged a total commitment of £744 million towards reconstruction in Iraq.
• The cost of the war to the UK stood at £956 million for the 2006/07 year. This is down on the £1,311 million recorded in 2003/04.
• Since the start of the war, Britain has had three defence secretaries - Geoff Hoon, John Reid and Des Browne.
• A new Iraqi constitution defining the country as democratic and pluralist was adopted in October 2005.
• Democratic elections held in December 2005 saw 12 million Iraqis - 76 per cent of the electorate - turn out to vote.
• 400,000 members of the Iraqi Security Forces have now been trained and equipped by coalition forces.
• Nine out of Iraq's 18 provinces are now under Iraqi control.
• On February 15, 2003 the Stop The War coalition staged the UK's biggest ever demonstration. Organisers claim that up to 2 million people attended the London protest.
• An estimated six to 10 million people participated in protests across the globe on February 15, 2003, making it the largest mass protest movement in history.
• A recent poll commissioned by War On Want found that more people think Britain went into Iraq to gain control of the country's oil than for any other reason.
• A poll of 2,000 Iraqis in 2007 found that 43 per cent said life was better than before the invasion, 36 per cent said it was worse and 22 per cent thought it was roughly the same.
• The same survey, commissioned by the BBC and other Western media, found that 22 per cent of Iraqis supported the presence of coalition forces, with 78 per cent opposing occupying troops.
dailymail.co.uk