If Britain had its own Baker report on Iraq, this is what it would say

After so deftly avoiding any Iraq inquiry at home, Tony Blair will be cursing his luck to have walked straight into one in Washington. His talks with President Bush were planned months ago: it was a ‘happy coincidence’ (as his spokesman said through gritted teeth) that it should coincide with publication of the long-awaited Baker report on Iraq. But for once, the Prime Minister is ahead of the Americans. He did not need a ten-month report to get moving: the British withdrawal has quietly begun.

The Americans were given no specific timetable for withdrawal in James Baker’s ‘which way now?’ report, but Britain’s was settled a fortnight ago. Of the four provinces under British control, the last one will be handed over to the Iraqi government in the spring. When withdrawal comes, I am told it will be total: we will not maintain so much as a garrison in Basra. When it comes to turning tail from Iraq, the US will not see Britain for dust.