Terrorism & Security
posted October 13, 2006 at 11:30 a.m.| Updated 3:06 p.m.

British Army chief: Military presence in Iraq 'exacerbates security problem'

General denies rifts with Blair but says Brits need to get out of Iraq soon.

By Tom Regan | csmonitor.com

In what the British media are calling one of the most outspoken interviews ever given by a serving soldier, General Sir Richard Dannatt – the head of the British Army – told the newspaper the Daily Mail that Britain's army will break if it is kept in Iraq much longer and that his troops need to get out of that country soon. Gen. Dannatt also said that "history will show" that post-war planning for Iraq was poor and based "more on optimism than sound planning."

He says clearly we should "get ourselves out sometime soon because our presence exacerbates the security problems. We are in a Muslim country and Muslims' views of foreigners in their country are quite clear. As a foreigner, you can be welcomed by being invited in a country, but we weren't invited certainly by those in Iraq at the time.

"The military campaign we fought in 2003 effectively kicked the door in. Whatever consent we may have had in the first place, may have turned to tolerance and has largely turned to intolerance. That is a fact. I don't say that the difficulties we are experiencing round the world are caused by our presence in Iraq but undoubtedly our presence in Iraq exacerbates them."

Dannatt also said the idea that Iraq would be turned into a pro-West liberal democracy and a model for the region was "naive" and that US and Britain should "aim for a lower ambition." But he felt that the situation in Afghanistan was still fluid enough that it would be turned around. The Daily Mail writes that Dannatt's views "will send shockwaves" through the British government.



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For his part, the Guardian reports Friday Dannatt denied that there was a chasm with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and said "a tremendous amount had been made" from his comments in the Daily Mail. Although he said he was not withdrawing his remarks, he said Britain will not "surrender" in Iraq anytime soon.

"I'm a soldier - we don't do surrender, we don't pull down white flags. We will remain in southern Iraq until the job is done - we're going to see this through."

The BBC reports that reaction to the general's original comments was, however, overwhelmingly supportive. Channel Four News writes that a website that carries the comments from some British soldiers serving in Iraq gave Dannatt strong backing. "The most impressive comments I have heard from someone of his seniority for a long time," wrote one soldier. "I bet the politicians are confused by someone at their level telling the truth, rather than getting clearance from a spin doctor."

The Financial Times reports that the White House, in reaction to Dannatt's remarks, reiterated its position on Iraq becoming a "beacon of hope" for the region.

Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, said: "I don't know the context in which this was said but I would remind you that it's the democratically elected Iraqi leaders themselves who have asked for reassurance that we will stay to help them gain control over the security situation." She added: "We're going to...ensure a democratic stronghold of liberty and freedom in the heart of the Middle East is fully established and serving as a beacon of hope for those moderate governments in the region who strive for the same."

In an analysis piece for the BBC, political correspondent Nick Assinder writes that while Dannatt claims that there is only a slim gap between him and Tony Blair when it comes to Iraq, that is clearly not the case and it leaves a chasm which may be difficult to close. Iraq war opponents in Britain have seized on his remarks to validate their positions, Mr. Assinder writes, while war supporters are claiming that Dannatt was misquoted. But the impact of Dannatt's comments in the Daily Mail are sure to linger.

Demands for a detailed exit strategy will now grow. Tony Blair will find himself once again being forced back onto the issue he has been attempting to draw a line under for months – most notably by hardly mentioning it in his final Labour conference speech.

And, perhaps, it will even add to the view that the only way there can be some sort of "closure" to this issue will be through a change of prime minister "sometime soon."

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