[Media-watch] Blair admits Iraq is a 'shadow' over labour - Independent - 31/05/2004

[Julie-ann Davies]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=526646

Blair admits Iraq is a 'shadow' hanging over Labour support
By Nigel Morris Home Affairs Correspondent
31 May 2004


Tony Blair forecast yesterday that British soldiers would still be in Iraq
in 18 months' time as he warned the country faced more bloodshed.

Although he conceded that the continued violence had cast a "shadow" over
the Government's support, he signalled that Britain's immediate commitment
to Iraq would deepen. He said a decision on sending more troops - widely
believed to be the deployment of another 3,000 soldiers - would be made
within weeks.

The Prime Minister said he wanted the numbers scaled down by December 2005,
but in so doing pushed back the date for the British presence to remain. He
told BBC1's Breakfast with Frost: "I would want certainly by the end of next
year to have a substantial reduction in the British troop commitment - I
would certainly hope so."

Mr Blair warned Iraq was entering the most dangerous phase of its
transformation, before the handover of power planned for 30 June. "We're at
the worst time now and in the months to come, because around the time of the
transition these people will be attempting to do whatever they can to
disrupt that process," he said.

After falling opinion poll ratings over his performance, he said: "It gets
more difficult as you go on as Prime Minister, that's for sure. But also
Iraq has been a very divisive issue."

Mr Blair said campaigning for next month's local and European elections had
demonstrated that voters recognised the Government's achievements on the
economy, jobs and public services. But, he conceded: "Iraq is the shadow
over our support, there's no doubt about that, there's no point in disputing
that."

He added that a decision on dispatching more troops was imminent, but denied
suggestions it had been put off because of the harm it could do to the
Labour vote in the elections. "It is simply you need to make sure you get
this decision right," he said. "The important thing is we have got to remain
there until the job is done." Mr Blair denied there was a rift between
London and Washington over the status of troops after the transfer of power.
He said the political decisions would be taken by the interim Iraqi
administration, but military commanders would be in charge of operations.

Hours after The Independent on Sunday revealed the Army was investigating
allegations that 10 Iraqi civilians died after ill-treatment by British
soldiers, Mr Blair conceded that images of Iraqi prisoners being tortured
had been damaging. "They were absolutely ghastly and unacceptable and they
revolted any normal and decent human being," he said.

He also confirmed plans to improve relations with Muslims. A leaked
Whitehall document revealed a project to "win the hearts and minds" of young
Muslims amid fears Britain could be harbouring as many as 10,000 al-Qa'ida
supporters.