UK declines to make future troop commitment to Iraq
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Oct 23, IRNA
UK Troops-Iraq
Defence Secretary Des Browne Tuesday declined to say whether Britain would send troops back to Iraq if the situation further deteriorates following its withdrawal.
Giving evidence to the parliamentary Defence Committee, Browne also rejected claims made by Armed Forced Minister Bob Ainsworth, that reducing military numbers in southern Iraq below 5,000 would leave British troops vulnerable.
In July, Ainsworth told the all-party committee that Britain's deployment in southern Iraq would be unable to be self-sustaining and protect itself with less than 5,000 soldiers.
But the defence secretary insisted that he was satisfied that Britain had the right number of troops, based at Basra airport, which is set to fall to just 2,500 by next spring.
"What has changed is that we are now in a position to have a very clear idea in consultation with allies and the Iraqis themselves as to exactly what we would be doing, what tasks we would be carrying out," he said.
Browne dismissed reports that the decision to cut troops was a political, rather than military decision. "No figure was given to the military by politicians. We did not say "get to this figure," he said.
When challenged over whether Britain in future would be prepared to send troops back to Iraq should the situation demand it, he said the first line of responsibility would lie with the "Iraqis themselves." The British government would "need to judge the circumstances" and there were "too many" for him to make any commitment, the official said.
He denied that he was being evasive in answering the question.
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