Supply Line

Juan Cole asks a very good question today. In his post, he notes that the new PM for Britain, Gordon Brown, has committed to the removal of all British forces from Iraq within two years. First, that sounds like America's closest ally has a timeline? But more importantly, if the British pull out, who will guarantee the supply lines from southern Iraq to the American forces in Baghdad (and in the north in general)? That which isn't flown in is trucked in from the southern port of Basra. Without the British, does anyone actually think the supply chain will be safe?

The naive among us might say that the U.S. will be out of Iraq by then. I hope so, but I'd wouldn't bet on it.