IRAQ: Mr Tony Blair has acknowledged the possibility that other British troops may be needed to replace the Black Watch Regiment after it completes its tour assisting US marines in northern Iraq before Christmas, writes Frank Millar in London
The Prime Minister made his unsurprising admission in the Commons yesterday as the 850-strong British battle group moved out of UK-controlled Basra in a move north to assume operations until now undertaken by US forces.
"The deployment has begun," a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said. "For operational reasons I can give no further details. But they will be back for Christmas."
Mr Blair has furiously denied suggestions that the move was intended to boost US President George Bush in advance of next week's US presidential election, while insisting it has everything to do with creating the right conditions for the Iraqi elections scheduled for January.
Pressed by the Liberal Democrat leader Mr Charles Kennedy during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Blair again confirmed that the members of the Black Watch would be home for Christmas. Mr Mr Kennedy suggested that in giving this undertaking last week Mr Blair had also given the clear impression "that that would mark the end of the requirement for British forces to carry out this additional responsibility." Asked if that was in fact the case, Mr Blair replied: "The Black Watch, yes, we have said and they will come back for Christmas. As to what then happens, we can't be sure at the moment. We don't believe there will be a further requirement for other troops. But I can't commit myself, I can't guarantee that because I obviously don't know the situation that may arise. What I do know is that if there is any contingency We are able to meet it." However Mr Blair was unyielding when Mr Kennedy pressed him further to say whether he had sought or been given an assurance by the US government that if the Black Watch was withdrawn in due course its position would be filled by American rather than British troops.
"I haven't been given such an assurance and I haven't sought such an assurance," Mr Blair told him: "We are engaged in a joint operation in Iraq with this purpose in mind - to make sure that elections can take place in Iraq in January. If they can it will be the biggest blow for freedom and stability and prosperity in that country that we can possibly imagine."
Mr Blair went on: "I don't think we should go into this in an attitude of mind that is continually trying to pick holes in this strategy in a way that I don't think helps the overall joint effort in Iraq, which I passionately believe is in the interests of the security of this country."