Iraq and the British Army

UK troop reserves 'almost gone'

The head of the Army has warned that British troops are so stretched that the nation's military reserves are "almost non-existent".

In the memo, leaked to the Daily Telegraph, General Sir Richard Dannatt said the Army was undermanned because of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

He also said vital equipment was being used "at the edge of sustainability".

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the forces were working hard but the current situation was "manageable".

General Dannatt also said the Army has "almost no capability to react to the unexpected".

Britain isn't leaving Iraq because of the politics, a lack of will amongst politicians and no doubt they are freaked out about somehow damaging their influence with America.

To every other person it makes sense to get out of there as soon as possible. All British troops are doing is remaining in their bases, not doing anything of consequence.