From Holden:

There go the Brits.

Britain said Monday it will cut its forces in Iraq by 10 percent — a reduction of about 800 troops — by May because Iraqi security forces are becoming more capable of handling security. Defense Secretary John Reid said Britain’s commitment to the Iraqi people “remains total.”

[snip]

Reid said the country is not at the stage “where whole provinces could be taken under the responsibility of Iraqi security forces.

[snip]

Britain had 46,000 military personnel in Iraq during combat operations in March and April 2003. That dropped to 18,000 in May 2004, and to 8.500 at the end of 2005.