Blair thanks UK troops in Iraq
The Prime Minister has thanked British troops in Iraq for their part in the recent conflict in the Middle Eastern state.
Addressing troops in the southern Iraqi city of Basra this morning, Tony Blair congratulated the soldiers on having ‘liberated’ the country, stating that the way in which they were ‘conducting the peace’ was ‘remarkable’.
The military methods used to capture Basra had been an example to soldiers all over the world, the PM maintained.
He went on to describe the benefits which he claimed the war had brought to the Middle East in general, which had been a source of ‘instability, terrorism and difficulties in international affairs’.
Leaders in the Gulf states had perceived ‘changes’ as a result of the invasion, in particular with states such as Syria and Iran, with whom ‘there are still big issues to discuss and resolve’.
The Prime Minister also saw hope for ‘a different way forward for the future’ in the Israel/Palestine conflict.
He concluded that the war represented ‘one of defining moments of our century’.
Yesterday the PM attended talks with the Crown Prince and Emir in Kuwait City and thanked the Kuwaiti government for its support during the Iraq conflict, whose country was used as a base for the coalition invasion of Iraq.
Mr Blair is due to attend a meeting of the G8 group of industrialised states at Evian, France later this week, following planned visits to Poland and Russia.
His visit to Iraq comes after US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld admitted that the alleged weapons of mass destruction that sparked the war may never be found.
Leaving for the Middle East yesterday, the Prime Minister insisted that he believed the weapons existed, stating that he had ‘absolutely no doubt at all’ about the existence of banned weapons in Iraq.
He added that it was important to wait ‘until we get the full report back from our people who are interviewing the Iraqi scientists.’
Mr Rumsfeld suggested that the alleged chemical and biological weapons might have been destroyed by the former Iraqi administration or that the invasion was simply to fast for them to retaliate.
