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Tory think-tank attacks Iraq war Iraq errors 'raised terror risk'
(about 14 hours later)
The invasion of Iraq is a failed policy that has made the UK more likely to be a terrorist target, says a think-tank's report for the Conservative Party. Failures in Iraq have put the UK at greater risk of terrorist attacks, says Conservative leader David Cameron.
The National and International Security Policy Group will warn against the UK being the "mute partner" of the US. He agreed with a Tory policy group's report that Britons now faced a greater threat than before the war.
The document, to be unveiled on Monday, calls for an "international framework" uniting Islamic and Western states. Disagreeing with foreign policy did not justify terrorism, but it was just "a statement of fact", he said.
Tory leader David Cameron is set to back its call for a new body to study the impact of foreign policy. The report calls for a UK national security council to be created to ensure all policies take account of potential impacts at home and abroad.
The proposed UK National Security Council would have interdepartmental staff and would be responsible for making every policy "coherent in the sense that it takes fully into account the likely consequences at home and abroad". Mr Cameron said: "I think it is clear that over the last few years decisions that have been taken, the difficulties there have been in Iraq, clearly have had a wider effect.
What we can't do in future is hang our whole strategy on the military Dame Pauline Neville-Jones 'Lack of preparation'
Departments involved would include the Foreign and Home Offices, the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Defence, the intelligence agencies and the Cabinet Office. "That's not to say for one second that in any way disagreeing with British foreign policy justifies in any way any sort of terrorism - of course it doesn't.
"But it's just, I think, a statement of fact."
The document says foreign and domestic security policy has been hindered by a "lack of balance, lack of careful preparation and lack of coherence".The document says foreign and domestic security policy has been hindered by a "lack of balance, lack of careful preparation and lack of coherence".
The Conservatives' longstanding proposal for a dedicated homeland security minister is also likely to be reiterated. It calls for a new security council to work with deparments like the Foreign and Home Office, to examine the potential impact "at home and abroad" of every policy.
The group's interim report will be unveiled at an event attended by leader David Cameron, but its criticism of the invasion may make some Conservatives feel uncomfortable, given the party's support for military action. The National and International Security Policy Group - also warned against the UK being the "mute partner" of the US.
'Doomed to failure' I agree absolutely we should have no truck with anti-Americanism, we should confront that David Cameron
It will call for a Middle East strategy with more "humility and patience", while condemning efforts to impose instant change through a "take it or leave it" set of demands. Its criticism of the Iraq invasion may make some Conservatives feel uncomfortable, given the party's support for military action.
Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, the policy group's chairman, said she had supported the invasion and did not believe it had been "doomed to failure", but a number of errors had been made. But Mr Cameron said: "We need to be America's candid friend, rather than mute partner, but I think there's a lot of work there that needs to be done.
She is a former head of the joint intelligence committee, which played a central role in advising ministers in the run-up to the Iraq war. "I agree absolutely we should have no truck with anti-Americanism, we should confront that. But we need to make sure this is a balanced and strong relationship and that it works for Britain."
Dame Pauline said: "We now have a very difficult situation from which to extricate ourselves. 'Real cheek'
"I'm not saying this decision (to invade) was a mistake, but it did not go right. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore said: "In this new security initiative, the real cheek is for David Cameron to try to distance himself from the Iraq war.
"What we can't do in future is hang our whole strategy on the military. We must have a policy that's far more diplomatically interested (in) reform of societies." "This will not wash with the British public, who know very well that he and his colleagues followed the Government into the 'yes' lobby."
She believes there needs to be an approach in which countries in the Middle East are shown that they will miss out on benefits if they do not introduce democratic regimes. What we can't do in future is hang our whole strategy on the military Dame Pauline Neville-Jones
The report calls for a Middle East strategy with more "humility and patience", while condemning efforts to impose instant change through a "take it or leave it" set of demands.
Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, the policy group's chairman, said she had supported the invasion, but a number of errors had been made.
She is a former head of the joint intelligence committee, which advised ministers in the run-up to the Iraq war.
Dame Pauline said: "What we can't do in future is hang our whole strategy on the military. We must have a policy that's far more diplomatically interested (in) reform of societies."
She believes countries in the Middle East should be shown that they will miss out on benefits if they do not introduce democratic regimes.