Gordon Brown and the magical disappearing Iraqi troop withdrawal

First it was 2,000 British troops to be withdrawn from Iraq (the figure leaked to the BBC).

Then it was 1,000 (the figure Gordon Brown told the TV cameras earlier today).

Then it was 730 (after it turned out that 270 has already come home).

Then it was 500 (after it came to light that 230 were due to come home anyway under plans announced in July).

And then it was zero (after it turned out the other 500 are currently not in Iraq but in, er…, Germany).