British commander wants troops out of Iraq
Associated Press
London — Britain's new army chief called for a withdrawal of British troops from Iraq, warning that the military's presence there only exacerbates security problems, according to an interview published Thursday.
Gen. Richard Dannatt described British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Iraq policies as "naive," declaring that while Iraqis might have welcomed coalition forces following the ouster of Saddam Hussein, the good will has since evaporated after years of violence.
The British military should "get ourselves out some time soon because our presence exacerbates the security problems," Gen. Dannatt said in an interview with the Daily Mail released on the tabloid's Web site. "Whatever consent we may have had in the first place" from the Iraqi people "has largely turned to intolerance," he was quoted as saying.
The British government has not yet set a timetable for the departure of its 7,500 troops from Iraq.
The Defence Ministry responded to the interview by saying: "We have a clear strategy in Iraq. We are there with our international partners in support of the democratically elected government of Iraq, under a clear U.N. mandate."
Mr. Blair's office referred all questions to the Defence Ministry.
Gen. Dannatt's comments are certain to infuriate Mr. Blair, who is U.S. president George W. Bush's key ally in the Iraq war. It is highly unusual for a sitting British military commander to publicly criticize the government's foreign policy. Gen. Dannatt took over as army commander in late August.
Britain's involvement in Iraq has proved highly controversial from the outset. Millions protested on the streets in the lead up to the war in 2003, while high profile cabinet ministers have quit the government as a result of Mr. Blair's support for the U.S.-led action.
