BRITISH WITHDRAWAL LESSENS U.S. MILITARY OPTION

"... analysts in Tehran are able to hide their rather euphoric reaction to the news of the British withdrawal from Basra... A US military option against Iran is now even less likely in light of the power vacuum in southern Iraq that, if need be, could be utilized by Tehran to undermine the stability of the US's presence in the rest of Iraq..."
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/II05Ak04.html

BRITISH WITHDRAW FROM BASRA INTO AIRBASE

"British soldiers began withdrawing... 550 soldiers stationed in Basra Palace were leaving the downtown site to join 5,000 other personnel at an air base camp on the fringes of the city — ending their permanent presence in Iraq's second largest city.... the palace compound (had been) targeted with daily mortar and rocker attack in recent months.."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070902/ap_on_re_mi_ea/britain_iraq