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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Blair agrees war 'not being won' | Blair agrees war 'not being won' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair has agreed with the incoming US defence secretary's assessment that the war in Iraq is not being won. | Tony Blair has agreed with the incoming US defence secretary's assessment that the war in Iraq is not being won. |
| Asked by Tory leader David Cameron if he agreed with Robert Gates' assessment of the war, Mr Blair said: "Of course." | Asked by Tory leader David Cameron if he agreed with Robert Gates' assessment of the war, Mr Blair said: "Of course." |
| He added, at prime minister's questions in the Commons: "What's important however is that we go on to succeed in the mission we set ourselves." | He added, at prime minister's questions in the Commons: "What's important however is that we go on to succeed in the mission we set ourselves." |
| Mr Blair is flying to Washington later on Wednesday to meet President Bush, amid talk of changes to Iraq policy. | Mr Blair is flying to Washington later on Wednesday to meet President Bush, amid talk of changes to Iraq policy. |
| The main focus is expected to be the publication of the Iraq Study Group's report, which is due later on Wednesday. | The main focus is expected to be the publication of the Iraq Study Group's report, which is due later on Wednesday. |
| Leaks suggest the inquiry, which was set up by Congress and led by ex-Secretary of State James Baker, will recommend in its report that all combat forces be removed from Iraq by early 2008. | |
| On Tuesday, Mr Gates said the next two years could see slow improvements or "the very real risk of a regional conflagration". | |
| As progressively, the Iraqis are capable of taking on their own security...then the need for British troops diminishes Tony Blair | As progressively, the Iraqis are capable of taking on their own security...then the need for British troops diminishes Tony Blair |
| During PMQs, Tory leader David Cameron said it was essential strategy for Iraq was decided "by the British government and in the British national interest". | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked: "Isn't it clear that the British government has no policy of its own in relation to Iraq? And that we are wholly dependent on the decisions taken in Washington? | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked: "Isn't it clear that the British government has no policy of its own in relation to Iraq? And that we are wholly dependent on the decisions taken in Washington? |
| "What sort of strategy is that? And what sort of legacy is that?" | "What sort of strategy is that? And what sort of legacy is that?" |
| 'Fight and defeat' | 'Fight and defeat' |
| Mr Blair said the British stood side-by-side with the US and the Iraqi government in working to make the country stable. | Mr Blair said the British stood side-by-side with the US and the Iraqi government in working to make the country stable. |
| The prime minister added: "As progressively, the Iraqis are capable of taking on their own security, as now they are doing in two out of the four provinces and in one half of Basra... then the need for British troops diminishes. That is our strategy." | The prime minister added: "As progressively, the Iraqis are capable of taking on their own security, as now they are doing in two out of the four provinces and in one half of Basra... then the need for British troops diminishes. That is our strategy." |
| It's also important we make sure the process of reconciliation ... is carried through, with greater effect than so far Tony Blair | |
| He said: "It is very important, particularly at this moment, when British troops are doing an extraordinary job there in the most difficult circumstances that we make it clear that the people who are fighting us, down in Iraq - as in Afghanistan - are people we will take on and fight and defeat anywhere they are." | |
| He said that the whole of the Middle East needed to be put on a more stable footing and that part of that meant finding a solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. | He said that the whole of the Middle East needed to be put on a more stable footing and that part of that meant finding a solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. |
| During PMQs, Mr Cameron asked Mr Blair what he believed the changes to US policy following the US report should be. | |
| Mr Blair, who gave evidence to the US inquiry, said: "Inside Iraq, what is important is that we complete the building up of the capability, particularly of the Iraqi army. | |
| "We've also got to make sure that the governance and capability of the Iraqi government is improved - not just in relation to the way it functions but also, for example, to the disbursement of money both in Sunni and Shia areas. | |
| "It's also important we make sure the process of reconciliation ... is carried through, with greater effect than so far." | |
| The Iraq Study Group report is also believed to suggest talks with Iran and Syria over Iraq. | |
| Mr Blair has raised the possibility of discussion with Iraq's neighbours; something Washington has so far ruled out. |