Blair, in surprise visit to Iraq, says British troops will stay 'until the job is done'

A British soldier in Basra assumes a combat position while on patrol this week in Basra

BAGHDAD, Dec. 17 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Baghdad Sunday on an unannounced visit and said his country's troops will remain in Iraq "until the job is done," while gunmen in Iraqi army uniforms burst into Red Crescent offices and kidnapped more than two dozen people at the humanitarian organization.

"British troops will remain until the job is done and that job is building up the Iraqi capability," Blair said, echoing similar statements from President Bush about American troops.

Blair made his comments to reporters after emerging from a one-hour meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

When asked about his defense minister's statement a few weeks ago that most British troops will be pulled out by next year, Blair said: "It has always been our strategy . . . with Saddam [Hussein] removed to have a political process that is democratic and to have our forces in support of that Democratic process, but as the Iraqi capability grows, then to stand our forces down.

"This is not a change in our policy. This is our policy," Blair said.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

Related Link:
Sources: Bush ready to send up to 50,000 more troops to Iraq

Related Link:
Bush rejects ideas of 'defeat', says aim to 'win war' -- no leaving until 'job is done'

Related Link:
British Parliament to debate Iraq in January

Related Link:
Blair: UK to keep significant force in Iraq

Related Link:
Britain to Downgrade Commitment to Iraq

Related Link:
Blair: Iraq is a 'disaster'

Related Link:
Report: Britain tells U.S. it wants to withdraw within a year

Related Link:
Top UK Commander: Britain must quit Iraq 'soon'