British memo criticizes US tactics in Iraq

The internal memo – titled "Iraq: The Medium Term" and dated May 19, according to the Times – warned that "heavy-handed US military tactics in Fallujah and Najaf some weeks ago have fuelled both Sunni and [Shiite] opposition to the coalition and lost us much public support outside Iraq."

We need to double our efforts to ensure a sensible and sensitive US approach to military operations. The message seems to be accepted at the highest levels, but not always implemented lower down the command chain.

The memo also commented on the diplomatic damage done by the already infamous images of US military personnel abusing Iraqi prisoners: "The scandal of the treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib has sapped the moral authority of the coalition inside Iraq and internationally."

05/21/04 No high-octane solution 05/20/04 Pentagon investigates 'brutal' deaths of 5 Iraqi prisoners 05/19/04 Iranians demonstrate against US, UK

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United Press International writes that the document "suggests the show of unity between Britain and the United States on Iraq may not be genuine." UPI also points out that the memo discusses whether to deploy more British troops to Iraq or dispatch a British-led NATO headquarters group. "If we go down either route we should ensure that we use it to maximize our influence over American military decisions, and that we can prevent US action, either at the strategic or operational levels, which would jeopardize our objectives," said the memo.

AM, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio program, reports that "while the leak could potentially ruffle diplomatic feathers, one analyst believes it could be a deliberate and positive show of British independence ahead of local government elections." AM says that security analyst MJ Gohel of the Asia Pacific Foundation "suspects it may have been a deliberate leak" by the government and quotes Mr. Gohel as saying:

The memo indicates quite clearly that there is independent British thinking, as regards to strategy in Iraq. And on top of that, one would be really very cynical, one would say that there are local elections due in the UK very soon and so it's also necessary for the British public to realise that Britain does have an independent foreign policy.

The memo was leaked just days before the US and Britain are to introduce a draft resolution on Iraqi sovereignty to the UN. BBC reports that the resolution is "expected to include limitations on the powers of a new Iraqi government and approval for a US-led force to remain in Iraq." The memo also suggested a desire to quickly reach an agreement on the resolution. "We must ensure successful negotiation of a [new UN security council resolution] ideally before the D-Day celebrations on June 6 (which will serve as some leverage on the French). The prospects for this look reasonably positive."

Regarding the resolution, the memo stresses that Britain wants the Iraqi interim government to "have an effective veto over major operations".

"We still need to tie the US down to language that reflects these principles. But if we do so, and then give the French, Germans and Russians a genuine opportunity to offer views on the draft, the prospects look reasonable.

"This will require detailed senior level intervention with the US."

The Independent reports that details of the memo "emerged as Labour leaders were warned by campaign teams across the country that middle-class members in marginal seats were deserting the party in droves over the occupation of Iraq." Members of parliament have been calling on Blair to distance himself from the Bush administration policy on Iraq, reports The Independent.

But a Times of London (subscription) editorial asserts that Blair's government will not likely take issue with the content of Bush's Monday night speech.

There will not be much in Mr. Bush's text, if anything, that will be disputed in Downing Street. ... If there have been distinctions between American and British philosophy in Iraq, then they are now likely to blur. It is ironic that there should be calls for Tony Blair to distance himself publicly from Mr. Bush at the very time when it is evident that the US position has, for pragmatic reasons, moved to territory with which it can be assumed that the Prime Minister is more comfortable. ... The notion that Mr Blair is incapable of making an effective private case to Mr Bush is wrong.

Also...
• The rise and fall of Chalabi: Bush's Mr. Wrong ( Newsweek)
• US: More oil from Saudi Arabia ( CNN)
• Afghan deaths linked to unit at Iraq prison ( The New York Times)
• 'I will always hate you people' ( The Guardian)
• 'Wedding video' clouds US denials ( BBC)

• Feedback appreciated. E-mail Matthew Clark.