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UK general criticises US policy UK general attacks US Iraq policy
(about 3 hours later)
The head of the British army during the Iraq invasion has said US post-war policy was "intellectually bankrupt".The head of the British army during the Iraq invasion has said US post-war policy was "intellectually bankrupt".
Former chief of the general staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, told the Daily Telegraph he felt a key policy was "short-sighted". In a Daily Telegraph interview, former chief of the general staff, Gen Sir Mike Jackson, added that US strategy had been "short-sighted".
He criticised Donald Rumsfeld, saying the former US defence secretary was "one of the most responsible for the current situation in Iraq". He said former US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld was "one of the most responsible for the current situation".
Sir Mike's autobiography, Soldier, is being serialised in the paper. The US Department of Defence said: "Divergent viewpoints are a hallmark of open, democratic societies."
In an interview he described a claim by Mr Rumsfeld that US forces "don't do nation-building" as "nonsensical". Sir Mike told the Daily Telegraph that Mr Rumsfeld's claim that US forces "don't do nation-building" was "nonsensical".
He criticised the decision to hand control of planning the administration of Iraq after the war to the Pentagon.He criticised the decision to hand control of planning the administration of Iraq after the war to the Pentagon.
'Inadequate' 'Inadequate' approach
He also described the disbanding of the Iraqi army and security forces after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein as "very short-sighted".He also described the disbanding of the Iraqi army and security forces after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein as "very short-sighted".
He said: "We should have kept the Iraqi security services in being and put them under the command of the coalition."He said: "We should have kept the Iraqi security services in being and put them under the command of the coalition."
Sir Mike also defended the record of British troops in Iraq after claims by US officials that UK forces had failed. class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6216808.stm">Profile: Gen Sir Mike Jackson
Sir Mike, who is now retired, also defended the record of British troops in Iraq after claims by US officials that UK forces had failed.
He said: "What has happened in the south, as throughout the rest of Iraq, was that primary responsibility for security would be handed to the Iraqis once the Iraqi authorities and the coalition were satisfied that their state of training and development was appropriate.He said: "What has happened in the south, as throughout the rest of Iraq, was that primary responsibility for security would be handed to the Iraqis once the Iraqi authorities and the coalition were satisfied that their state of training and development was appropriate.
"In the south we had responsibility for four provinces. Three of these have been handed over in accordance with that strategy. It remains just in Basra for that to happen.""In the south we had responsibility for four provinces. Three of these have been handed over in accordance with that strategy. It remains just in Basra for that to happen."
The Telegraph said Sir Mike, who is now retired, writes in his book that the US approach to fighting global terrorism was "inadequate" as it focused on military power rather than diplomacy and nation-building. The Telegraph said Sir Mike writes in his autobiography, which is being serialised in the paper, that the US approach to fighting global terrorism was "inadequate" as it focused on military power rather than diplomacy and nation-building.
Further strain
His comments follow a series of critical remarks from US officials about the British attitude towards Iraq.
Retired Gen Jack Keane said last week that American commanders had expressed "frustration" over the prospect of UK withdrawal.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said Sir Mike's comments may put further strain on the British-US operation in Iraq.
Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said Sir Mike's remarks reinforced his view that British troops should leave Iraq as soon as is practically possible.
He added: "What Gen Jackson has said is absolutely correct.
"It goes to the very heart of the lack of real planning for post-war Iraq."
A spokeswoman for the US State Department said she would not comment on Sir Mike's views.
A US Department of Defence spokesman said: "Divergent viewpoints are a hallmark of open, democratic societies and that tradition is part of the military culture and ethos."