Blair forced to claim Dannatt's criticisms are 'absolutely right'

Tony Blair: Broke off from Northern Ireland talks to give his response to General Dannatt's astonishing comments
13 April 2012

Britain's top soldier was vindicated as Tony Blair was forced to claim he agreed with every word of his devastating assessment of British policy in Iraq.

• Friends say controversial Army General is honest and has 'no political agenda'

• An honest Army man who spoke for his men

After a remarkable day in politics, Sir Richard Dannatt appeared safe in his job despite having made a series of unprecedented criticisms of Government policy.

Sir Richard's brave stance prompted a wave of support from MPs of all parties, servicemen and women at home and abroad and families of soldiers killed in Iraq.

The new Chief of the General Staff's interview with the Daily Mail, in which he warned British troops were now "exacerbatin" tensions in Iraq and should come home "some time soon", sent shockwaves through the Government and made headlines around the world.

While serving members of the Army, Royal Navy and RAF are barred from talking to the media without permission, their websites were swamped with support for Sir Richard Dannatt.

Many express delight that a military chief had at last dared to reflect their own views publicly.

The extraordinary day began when Sir Richard took to the airwaves after a call late the night before from Defence Secretary Des Browne to discuss his remarks.

While the Ministry of Defence insisted he had wanted to expand on his remarks, some saw echoes of the department's treatment of weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, who was forced to make a televised appearance before a Commons committee and later committed suicide.

But if Labour's spin doctors had hoped Sir Richard would use his TV and radio appearances to appear contrite and backtrack on his remarks, they were disappointed.

While Sir Richard denied a "chasm" with the Government, he proceeded to make a further series of provocative statements.

He suggested troops should come home within two years, a flat contradiction of Mr Blair's insistence that they will stay "as long as it takes".

And he warned that keeping them in Iraq any longer could "break" the Army.

His remarks and were a serious blow for an already weakened Mr Blair, who is desperate not to be remembered chiefly for chaos in Iraq.

By yesterday evening, it had become apparent to Downing Street that they had been outmanoeuvred and an isolated and humbled Prime Minister broke off from talks on the future of Northern Ireland to offer the General his full support.

"What he is saying about wanting the British forces out of Iraq is precisely the same as we're all saying," Mr Blair claimed.

"Our strategy is to withdraw from Iraq when the job is done."

Mr Blair insisted Sir Richard was "plainly not" saying that troops should be withdrawn from Iraq now.

Mr Blair said when Sir Richard talked about the troops' presence exacerbating problems in Iraq, 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," he claimed.

But in places like Basra, the presence of British troops was still "absolutely necessary", he insisted.

But the Prime Minister was facing growing calls from his own MPs - increasingly exasperated by his refusal to make way for Gordon Brown - to set out a clear exit strategy.

Left-wing MP and leadership challenger John McDonnell called on the Government to bring before Parliament a strategy for withdrawal within the next week.

"In the name of reason and humanity the Government must now act and bring forward an exit strategy," he insisted.

"The Government appears to be paralysed by indecision on this issue."

Moderate Labour backbencher Geraldine Smith said: "If the military are now voicing these concerns, we can't ignore them.

"I think we now need a clear exit strategy. We are in a position where we could possibly be doing more harm than good by being there."

Labour chairman of the influential Commons foreign affairs committee Mike Gapes said he was "surprised" Sir Richard had expressed public concerns, but added: "On the issue that he's actually raising, military people were talking to me at the beginning of the year about an 18-month timetable for pulling right back.

"My committee asked the Government to clarify what the timetable is. There aren't members of the armed services saying we should withdraw immediately but we do need a debate."

Significantly, the Tories - traditionally reluctant to criticise Government policy on Iraq -also cheered Sir Richard's intervention and suggested the clock was ticking on Britain's presence in the country.

Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox MP welcomed his remarks and said his views on Iraq were "not particularly surprising".

"When I visited Iraq in the summer, I was told by troops that the attitude of the local people had moved from welcoming to consent to tolerance, a view reflected by the General.

"It has always been clear that we would not have an infinite amount of time to carry out our task."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Government policy on Iraq was "collapsing".

He said: "Senior military figures who were always doubtful about action in Iraq and its aftermath are becoming increasingly anxious about our role and the risks involved.

"There is no doubt however that there is a slide towards civil war. Time is running out.

"There is a desperate need for a new strategy led not by the US, but by the UN, providing for a peace process with a reinvigorated reconstruction programme and concerted international and regional engagement."

Former Tory defence secretary Michael Portillo said Sir Richard's relationship with ministers was now "absolutely compromised".

"I don't think you can get this genie back into the bottle," he added.

Mr Portillo said the General's comments had undermined the Prime Minister's authority, adding that the Government would be "hopping mad" about them.

"Their problem is that the General is not just speaking for himself, he's obviously reflecting a very broadly held view," he said.

Speaking publicly yesterday, Sir Richard said there was no "rift" with Ministers but said he did not want to see troops "broken" by an extended campaign in Iraq.

"I have withdrawn none of the comments that I have made. I have given a little more explanation about what I meant by 'some time soon'; that's not backtracking," he added.

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