Blair feels the heat over Iraq
Tony Blair has admitted British troops could be a “provocation” in some parts of Iraq but stressed pulling them out prematurely would be a “gross dereliction of duty”.
Under pressure from David Cameron and Menzies Campbell in the Commons, the prime minister also said he would like to see a significant withdrawal over the next 18 months.
The issue of Iraq has been high on the political agenda since the head of the army, general Richard Dannatt, said Britain’s presence was exacerbating the security situation.
He urged withdrawal “sometime soon” and also called into question Mr Blair’s aim to build a liberal democracy in Iraq. His comments came just days before a US report is expected to call for a new strategy in the middle-eastern country.
During prime minister’s questions this lunchtime, Conservative leader Mr Cameron questioned whether Mr Blair still believed a liberal democracy could be set up in Iraq.
“Our policy remains to ensure that Iraq continues as a democracy,” Mr Blair replied, saying it was “our job” to stand with the new government against the extremists.
Mr Cameron responded: “We all want to stand with the [Iraqi] government.but when he says we are going to stay until the job is done, we want to know what that means.”
The prime minister said: “It is our policy to withdraw progressively from Iraq [as] Iraqi forces are capable of taking on the security risk – that’s why it’s important that when we can hand over we do so. Otherwise we are a provocation.”
He added that it had been helpful to have cross-party support on this issue and hoped this support would remain, but the Tory leader – who backed military action in Iraq in 2003 – rejected this suggestion that he did not support British troops.
The Conservative party “backs troops in Iraq” and had never called for “some premature timetable for withdrawal”, Mr Cameron said. But he asked for a “frank, candid and honest” assessment of the situation from the government.
Mr Blair insisted he had given this, citing his assertion to the liaison committee earlier this year that Britain would significantly reduce troop numbers in the next 18 months, and the confirmation of this timetable by General Casey, the top US commander in Iraq.
“There is some sense as if we’ve been sitting here in government saying there is no way we are going to withdraw, we will stay there forever – but that has never been the case,” he said.
Mr Cameron had used up his quota of questions by this stage, but Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies launched his assault just minutes later, quipping: “Complaints about government policy in Iraq would be more acceptable from those who opposed the policy in the first place.”
He highlighted UN figures showing 3,000 Iraqi civilians were being killed every month, asking: “In those situations how can the prime minister maintain that our situation is not exacerbating the security situation?”
Mr Blair insisted that these deaths were caused by insurgents, not British soldiers, but Sir Menzies said: “The government strategy has failed. And in those circumstances the choice is stark – change the strategy or get out.”
But the prime minister said getting out “would be a mistake” and hearten terrorists around the world, adding: “Do not desert the democrats, support them.”
