UK Ministry of Defence, Gordon Brown has set out the government's strategy for Iraq and promised more protected vehicles and greater internet access for deployed personnel in a statement to the House of Commons today, 8 October 2007.
In a detailed statement the Prime Minister also paid tribute to UK Service personnel killed and injured on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan; welcomed a recent announcement by the Iraqi Government for a Basra development fund; set out the next stages in the UK operation and announced new support for Iraqi civilians who have worked for UK forces.
The Prime Minister set out the government's overarching strategy in Iraq as follows:
– first, to work to bring together the political groupings in Basra and across Iraq;
– second, to ensure that the security of the Iraqi people and the new Iraqi democracy is properly safeguarded, as well as the security of our own armed forces;
– and third, to work for an economy in Iraq where people have a stake in the future.
Mr Brown added:
“Our strategy is founded on the UN mandate renewed last November in UN Security Council Resolution 1723. Whatever disagreements there have been about our decision to go to war, there can be little disagreement about the unanimous UN position affirming the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future, calling upon “the International Community, particularly countries in the region and Iraq's neighbours, to support the Iraqi people in their pursuit of peace, stability, security, democracy and prosperity”.
Mr Brown highlighted the success in training and mentoring Iraqi security forces, and improvements in the security situation in the south:
“Over the past four years the UK has helped train over 13,000 Iraqi Army troops, including 10,000 now serving with the 10th Division which has been conducting operations in Basra and across the south of the country without the requirement for Coalition ground support. As we tackle corruption, 15,000 police officers are also now trained and equipped in Southern Iraq. And the Iraqi Army 14th Division – with around 11,000 men – are in the process of joining them and have already taken on responsibility for Basra City, bringing security forces in the south to almost 30,000 now and over 35,000 by June next year.
“Since we handed over our base in Basra City in early September the present security situation has been calmer. Indeed in the last month there have been five indirect fire attacks on Basra Air Station compared with 87 in July. And while the four southern provinces have around 20 per cent of the Iraqi people they still account for less than 5 per cent of the overall violence in Iraq.”
Mr Brown said that the government intended to reduce British force numbers in southern Iraq to 2,500 from next spring as Iraqi authorities prove increasingly capable of shouldering security responsibilities:
“Mr Speaker, during our engagement in Iraq we have always made clear that all our decisions must be made on the basis of the assessments of our military commanders and actual conditions on the ground. As a result of the progress made in Southern Iraq, US, UK and Iraqi commanders judged over the last 15 months that three out of the four provinces in the UK's area of control in southern Iraq were suitable for transition back to the Iraqis – and these have subsequently been transferred to Iraqi control.
“As part of the process of putting the Iraqi forces in the lead in Basra, we have just gone through a demanding operation which involved consolidating our forces at Basra airport. This was successfully completed, as planned, early last month.
“The next important stage in delivering our strategy to hand over security to the Iraqis is to move from a combat role in the rest of Basra province to “overwatch” which will itself have two distinct stages.
In the first, the British forces that remain in Iraq will have the following tasks:
– training and mentoring the Iraqi army and police force;
– securing supply routes and policing the Iran-Iraq border;
– and the ability to come to the assistance of the Iraqi security forces when called upon.
– Then, in the spring of next year – and guided as always by the advice of our military commanders – we plan to move to a second stage of “overwatch” where the Coalition would maintain a more limited re-intervention capacity and where the main focus will be on training and mentoring.
“And I want now to explain how – after detailed discussions with our military commanders, a meeting of the National Security Committee, discussions with the Iraqi Government and our allies, and subject to conditions on the ground – we plan, from next spring, to reduce force numbers in southern Iraq to a figure of 2,500.
“The first stage begins now. With the Iraqis already assuming greater security responsibility, we expect to:
– establish Provincial Iraqi Control in Basra province in the next two months as announced by the Prime Minister of Iraq,
– move to the first stage of “overwatch”,
– reduce numbers in southern Iraq from the 5,500 at the start of September to 4,500 immediately after Provincial Iraqi Control and then to 4,000,
– and then in the second stage of “overwatch”, from the spring – and guided as always by the advice of our military commanders – reduce to around 2,500 troops, with a further decision about the next phase made then. In both stages of “overwatch” around 500 logistics and support personnel will be based outside Iraq elsewhere in the region.
“At all times achieving our long term aim of handing over security to the Iraqi armed forces and police, honouring our obligations to the Iraqi people and to their security, and ensuring the safety of our forces.”
The Prime Minister announced a new policy which more fully recognises the contribution made by local Iraqi staff who work for our armed forces and civilian missions in uniquely difficult circumstances:
“Existing staff who have been employed by us for more than twelve months and have completed their work will be able to apply for a package of financial payments to aid resettlement in Iraq or elsewhere in the region, or – in agreed circumstances – for admission to the UK. And professional staff – including interpreters and translators – with a similar length of service who have left our employ since the beginning of 2005 will also be able to apply for assistance.
“We will make a further written statement on the detail of this scheme this week.”
The Prime Minister welcomed efforts to foster economic redevelopment in Basra:
“The purpose of economic reconstruction is to ensure ordinary Iraqis have an economic stake in the future. And so as a result of the work I launched with Prime Minister Maliki in July, the Provincial Council have created the Basra Investment Promotion Agency to stimulate private sector development and is forming a Basra Development Fund – financed by $30m dollars from the Iraqi Finance Ministry – to help small businesses access finance and kick start economic growth.”
The Prime Minister announced plans for more armoured vehicles and for increased internet access for British personnel, saying:
“Mr Speaker, the safety and security of our armed forces remains our highest priority.
“The Mastiff patrol vehicle offers the best known protection against mines and roadside bombs and I can announce today that in addition to the 100 bought and deployed last year in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence is placing an order for an additional 140 Mastiff patrol vehicles.
“And in recognition for the work of all our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan – and to help our troops stay in touch with home – we will provide additional funding from the Reserve to double the number of internet terminals and provide free wireless internet for soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan so they can email their families from their living quarters.
Summing up his statement, Mr Brown said:
“Mr Speaker, it is also important to remember what has brought us to this stage. It is the determination, professionalism and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. They have protected the Iraqi people while training their security forces to bring peace to their cities, towns and districts. The scale of their achievement should not be underestimated.”
