Iraqi joy at British 'defeat' as Bush makes surprise visit to Baghdad

But will the pull out cause a serious rift in the 'special relationship' with the US?
By Daily Mail (UK)

US President George Bush has made an unannounced visit to Iraq on the day British troops completed their pull out of Basra.

Iraqis are celebrating the move as a defeat, but Gordon Brown insisted Britain could still intervene in Basra when necessary.

The American response to the pull out has so far been muted, despite its crucial timing.

Bush administration officials were reportedly furious that the operation was launched at a time when the president is begging for more time for his "surge" strategy to turn the tide of the war - though no official comment has yet been made.

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