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Blair 'agrees' with UK Army chief Blair 'agrees' with UK Army chief
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair has said he agrees with "every word" the new head of the British Army said on the Iraq war.Tony Blair has said he agrees with "every word" the new head of the British Army said on the Iraq war.
The Daily Mail quoted General Sir Richard Dannatt as saying he thought UK troops "exacerbated" security problems and should withdraw "sometime soon".The Daily Mail quoted General Sir Richard Dannatt as saying he thought UK troops "exacerbated" security problems and should withdraw "sometime soon".
Mr Blair said transcripts of later radio interviews showed Sir Richard was saying "the same as we all are".Mr Blair said transcripts of later radio interviews showed Sir Richard was saying "the same as we all are".
He said they wanted to exit Iraq "when the job is done", and to remove troops when no longer needed in certain areas.He said they wanted to exit Iraq "when the job is done", and to remove troops when no longer needed in certain areas.
In a Daily Mail interview, Sir Richard, who took on his role in August, said UK troops should "get ourselves out sometime soon because our presence exacerbates the security problems".In a Daily Mail interview, Sir Richard, who took on his role in August, said UK troops should "get ourselves out sometime soon because our presence exacerbates the security problems".
I've said the same myself Tony Blair Sir Richard's quotesI've said the same myself Tony Blair Sir Richard's quotes
And he said planning for what happened after the initial successful war military offensive was "poor, probably based more on optimism than sound planning".And he said planning for what happened after the initial successful war military offensive was "poor, probably based more on optimism than sound planning".
He later told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that when he talked about pulling out of Iraq "sometime soon", he meant "then when the mission is substantially done we should leave".He later told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that when he talked about pulling out of Iraq "sometime soon", he meant "then when the mission is substantially done we should leave".
And he said the view that the presence of UK troops "exacerbates" the problems was "not right across the country", but in parts of it.And he said the view that the presence of UK troops "exacerbates" the problems was "not right across the country", but in parts of it.
The intention was "particularly to speak up for what is right for the Army," he said. "That is my job. That is my constituency".
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Sir Richard's remarks were little different from what other officers had been saying in private.
But the comments had given added urgency to finding an early and effective exit strategy, our correspondent said.
'Proper context''Proper context'
Speaking in St Andrews at the end of talks on Northern Ireland, the prime minister said the reason the government had been able to so far give up two provinces to Iraqi control was "precisely because the job has been done there."Speaking in St Andrews at the end of talks on Northern Ireland, the prime minister said the reason the government had been able to so far give up two provinces to Iraqi control was "precisely because the job has been done there."
He refused to be drawn on whether he agreed with quotes from Sir Richard published in the Daily Mail, saying only that later TV and radio interviews given by the general were more in context.He refused to be drawn on whether he agreed with quotes from Sir Richard published in the Daily Mail, saying only that later TV and radio interviews given by the general were more in context.
On the transcripts of those interviews Mr Blair said: "I agree with every word of it."On the transcripts of those interviews Mr Blair said: "I agree with every word of it."
"He sets in proper context what he is actually saying. What he is saying about wanting the British forces out of Iraq is precisely the same as we're all saying. Our strategy is to withdraw from Iraq when the job is done.""He sets in proper context what he is actually saying. What he is saying about wanting the British forces out of Iraq is precisely the same as we're all saying. Our strategy is to withdraw from Iraq when the job is done."
Mr Blair said when Sir Richard talked about the troops' presence exacerbating problems in Iraq, he thought he was "absolutely right".Mr Blair said when Sir Richard talked about the troops' presence exacerbating problems in Iraq, he thought he was "absolutely right".
"I've said the same myself, in circumstances where the Iraqis are ready to take over control of areas and we're still there.""I've said the same myself, in circumstances where the Iraqis are ready to take over control of areas and we're still there."
In places like Basra, the presence of British troops was still "absolutely necessary", he said.In places like Basra, the presence of British troops was still "absolutely necessary", he said.
Mr Blair told the press conference he had received a "report" about the Daily Mail article on Thursday night, and Sir Richard was "plainly not" saying that troops should be withdrawn from Iraq now.Mr Blair told the press conference he had received a "report" about the Daily Mail article on Thursday night, and Sir Richard was "plainly not" saying that troops should be withdrawn from Iraq now.
A spokesman for the Iraqi president said the departure of multi-national troops now "would be a disaster".A spokesman for the Iraqi president said the departure of multi-national troops now "would be a disaster".
Mr Blair said he "suspected" Sir Richard had given a long interview with the Daily Mail, and that some of his comments had been taken out of context.Mr Blair said he "suspected" Sir Richard had given a long interview with the Daily Mail, and that some of his comments had been taken out of context.