Iraqi Withdrawal?

LONDON (Reuters) - A leaked document from Britain's Defense Ministry says the British and U.S. governments are planning to reduce their troop levels in Iraq by more than half by mid-2006, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported.

The memo, reportedly written by Defense Minister John Reid, said Britain would reduce its troop numbers to 3,000 from 8,500 by the middle of next year....

The memo said Washington planned to cut its forces to 66,000 from about 140,000 by early 2006.

I'm not sure I buy it. Of course, maybe Bush wants to "declare victory and get out" before the Congressional elections in late 2006. But unless there's a major turnaround, I don't think Bush is going to get the good coverage he wants - 60,000 troops in Iraq may turn out to be a disaster.

BONUS CONSPIRACY THEORY: What if this is a backhand from Blair? After being crapped on at the G8 conference, Blair might be trying to get the British troops out fast. Leaking that there already a plan might be a way to get Bush to commit to one. The plan was leaked from a British source, after all.