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Blair urged to heed general's call for Iraq withdrawal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Oct 14, IRNA
UK General-Iraq Withdrawal
Britain's new Chief of General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt has received widespread support for his sudden call for the retreat of UK troops from Iraq, including from army officers, politicians and anti-war campaigners.

Colonel Tim Collins, one of the most senior British Army officers during the 2003 Iraq war, said the general, in peaking up for the rights of British troops, had given a "refreshing and very honest insight into what the army generally feel."
"He is not a politician and he is not given to spin, so what you hear from him is absolutely ground truth," Collins was quoted saying in the Times newspaper Saturday.

Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, which opposed the Iraq war, said the head of the British Army had undermined the government's position.

"When he says 'soon' in relation to Britain withdrawing should that now be measured in a matter of months rather than years?" Campbell said.

The general's call, first made in the Daily Mail on Friday, has dominated the British media agenda with many urging Prime Minister Tony Blair to heed his warning that the troops in Iraq "exacerbates the security problems."
"I think it is a very brave thing for him to say. I do agree. I think there comes a time when you have got to let Iraq get on and look after its own security," said Major General Patrick Cordingly, a commander during the 1991 Iraq war.

"Training has gone on to get the police and army forces working, there has to be a time when we do pull out. Maybe the General is thinking that if we had a few more troops in southern Afghanistan we might tip the balance there," Cordingly said.

Despite supporting the Iraq war, the Conservative's Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said it was "refreshing change" to have one of the UK's most senior military figures speaking out. Fox also revealed he was told the same thing when was recently in Iraq.

Rose Gentle, whose soldier son Gordon was killed in Iraq two years ago, said his call was "absolutely brilliant" that finally someone had said something.

"We have said all along that our boys are not helping by being out there, they are causing it. I'm glad the Army has stood up for itself," said Gentle, who founded campaign group, Military Families Against War.

"I hope Tony Blair sees sense now and brings our boys home, because it's their lives that are in danger. I'm just really delighted that Sir Richard has stood up and spoken out," she said.

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