Blair gives Iraq 12 months to be ready for handover

[tocqueville]

· PM to meet Iraqi leaders in Downing St today
· Former envoy warns that 'only bad options' remain

Patrick Wintour and Michael Howard
Monday October 23, 2006
The Guardian

Tony Blair will put pressure on the Iraqi government today to demonstrate that its security forces will be ready to take over from the British army in southern provinces within roughly a year.
Amid mounting international concern over escalating violence, Mr Blair is expected to use today's Downing Street talks with Iraq's deputy prime minister, Barham Saleh, to discuss plans for an exit strategy for British troops, with some ministers openly contemplating withdrawal inside a year.

In an attempt to demonstrate that the British army will not be bogged down in Iraq indefinitely, the defence secretary, Des Browne, said yesterday he expected that Iraq's security forces would have the capacity within a year to take over from British forces, a point also pushed home by the Foreign Office minister, Kim Howells. Mr Howells said: "I would have thought that certainly in a year or so there will be adequately trained Iraqi soldiers and security forces - policemen and women and so on - in order to do the job."

.......................................................

Mr Blair will again insist at today's talks that British troops will not pull out prematurely, but is likely to seek a private assessment of whether the Iraqi government can do more to boost its security forces, and to dispel the impression that, pushed by sectarian violence, Iraq's parliament is endorsing a form of federalism that will undermine the Sunni minority.

The talks come amid increasingly pessimistic assessments of the situation in Iraq from senior military and diplomatic figures. Yesterday Mr Blair's closest former adviser on Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, former British ambassador to the UN, described the invasion as "a failure" and "a mess". Sir Richard Dannatt, the head of the army, and other senior officers have also issued bleak public statements in the last fortnight.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1929000,00.html

[Sherman A1]

1. Oh those cut and run Brits!

Just like they did in the 1920's in Iraq.

[acmavm]

2. Tony' s feeling the heat. Worried about his legacy.

Wonder if we can expect something like this from george 'stay the course' bush**.

Probably not, at least not until the BFEE and Halliburton have squeezed every last dime they can out of the American taxpayer and there's not another drop of oil in the Mideast.

[rpannier]

3. Since bLiar wan't be around at that time

his announcement carries very little weight (IMHO)

It sounds more like he's trying to give himself an out.

[NOLADEM]

4. Yep, you nailed it

"Clean up this dump or I quit"

Hey Tony, you already gave your notice. This false little deadline is a pathetic attempt to pass the buck to your successor.

You should be forced to live with the Chimperor for the rest of your life in a cell in the Hague for all you have done.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. How about 12 weeks instead? Enough is enough.

[0007]

6. Whatever Tony!

[Benhurst]

7. 12 months? I thought the little war criminal was going to

hand over Britain.

I think the nasty little turd is harboring a delusion that things will turn around and he'll be able to stay on.

Why not take the next step, Tony? A palace coup sounds nice. King Tony has a certain ring to it.