] The number of British troops serving in the Gulf could be
] cut dramatically from 45,000 to 5,000 if the US-led war
] against Iraq drags on for at least six months.
]
] "Because of the massive pressures on our boys all over
] the world we will have to consider our commitment in the
] Gulf very carefully over the coming weeks," the Daily
] Mirror newspaper yesterday quoted a top British official
] as saying.
]
] "If this is dragging on in six months' time I would
] expect forces to be cut from 45,000 to 5,000. Australia
] and the US will have to take more of the burden," he
] said.
]
] Britain's army chief General Mike Jackson has
] acknowledged that sustaining British force levels in the
] Gulf was a problem in the long run.
]
] "It's certainly sustainable while we get this job done
] (but) ... not sustainable over a long period of time," he
] said.
]
] Most of the British troops deployed in the Gulf have been
] in the region for two months at the most.
]
] "Our standard operational tour is six months. Whether
] that is appropriate inside the six months we will make a
] judgement," he said.