The British Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday that the US has sent a request to the British government for redeployment of the British forces stationed in Iraq because the US troops stationed in Iraq are preparing for new military actions in Fallujah, which would lead to insufficient military strength in Baghdad. Britain is planning to dispatch 650 British soldiers stationed in south Iraq to the Baghdad region to provide support for the US troops. The news has aroused widespread criticisms from various circles in the UK. Tens of thousands of people from various parts of Britain and the European continent took to the streets to hold anti-war protests. The British media also made numerous reports on it. Britain is one of the participants in the war in Iraq. Why did a small military redeployment arouse so much reaction?

The UK currently has about 9,000 soldiers stationed in south Iraq. Since the start of the war in Iraq a total of 68 British soldiers died in Iraq. Many ordinary people and persons of insight have called on the government to withdraw troops from Iraq as soon as possible. However the government, instead of withdrawing, is providing assistance to the US troops, which inevitably meets with criticisms. The Sunday Times carried an article titled Blair Gives US Control Over British Troops, which pointed out that by so doing Mr. Blair risks being accused of publicly supporting Mr. Bush before the US election. An article in The Sunday Telegraph is titled Blair is 'Using Our Troops to Boost Bush'. The newspaper also disclosed that general Walker, Chief of the Defense Staff, is opposed to this. The Observer believes that the redeployment of the British troops would not only bring the British troops into greater involvement in the war in Iraq but these British troops are almost certain to be under the command of the US troops as well.

Mr. Cook, the former foreign secretary, published an article on the Independent on Sunday urging Mr. Blair to turn down the US troops' request. Mr. Cook believes that such redeployment would sink the British troops deeper into the US troops' aggressive methods. He also said the UK troops have been trying to persuade the US forces to standardize their actions, but failed. Once the attack by the US forces inflicts heavy civilian casualties like they did before the British troops would be branded with the same infamy as the US troops. British shadow Defense Secretary Soames commented, "peacekeeping" is "an Arabian night" for the US forces.

The British Independent disclosed yet another piece of news that Mr. Blair has secretly agreed to US' deploying interceptor missiles in Britain, which is to be part of the implementation of the "Son of Star Wars" defense plan. The public reaction is also a commotion. Defense Secretary Hoon hurried to say the British government has had no substantive action on this. However questioning voice is amounting. The Independent said negotiations with the US government have made breakthrough early in May and the British government has agreed in principle, but has demanded absolute secrecy before next election. The Liberal Democrat Party said the question has been "decided behind closed door" without sufficient debate and this is something that must be closely watched. The left-wing MPs (member of parliament) of the Labour Party also criticized it saying that Britain "does not need US missiles deployed on the British soil".

Antipathy toward the US Bush administration is also reflected in a recent public poll. The poll, which was carried out in 10 US allies, shows that the public in 8 countries does not wish Bush to win a second term. The results of a survey by a British public opinion survey and research agency show: "disillusionment with the US is growing among the British public and a strong loathing for Mr. Bush is burning". The results indicate that if the British took part in the US presidential election to be held on November 2, fifty percent would approve Mr. Kerry whilst the support for Mr. Bush would only be twenty two percent. An analysis carried on the British Guardian said 73 percent of the British believe that the US influence on international affairs is "excessive". Most British believe the US democracy is no longer a "model" for other countries.

The British Defense Secretary said on October 18 Britain is considering the US request for the assistance of the British troops. It seems that withdrawing the British troops is impossible for now. Judging from the slogans carried by the protesters and the reaction of the British media a growing anti-US mood is spreading in Britain. The US has to a great extent become isolated.

This is an article carried on the third page of People's Daily on Oct. 20 and translated by People's Daily Online