Downing Street Says

» Monday, March 17, 2008

Iraq

Asked if there would be a visual commemoration on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war, the PMS replied that the Government did not have anything specific planned.

Asked if there would be any statement on troop numbers, the PMS replied that as and when we were in a position to update on troop numbers, we would make that announcement. But the National Security Strategy on Wednesday was about something much broader.

Asked about the letter to the Fabian Society regarding an inquiry, and if it was the Prime Minister’s view that as long as there were British soldiers in Iraq then there should not be an inquiry, the PMS replied that this gave him the opportunity to remind people that the letter itself did say that this Government had already acknowledged that there would come a time when it was appropriate to hold an inquiry, that was the position taken by the previous Prime Minister and the previous Foreign Secretary, and by this Prime Minister and this Foreign Secretary. So there was nothing new in the letter that was sent to the Fabian Society, it was nothing more than a statement of the existing Government position.

Asked to clarify that there would be an inquiry, but it was not appropriate to do so whilst soldiers were in the front line in Iraq, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister had made clear, most recently in September last year in his press conference, that "there would be a time to discuss the issues you raise, but for the moment nothing has changed, the security and safety of our forces, and there are more than 5,000 people in Iraq, remain the first and foremost consideration". This was his overriding priority.

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Iraq

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