Downing Street Says

» Monday, August 20, 2007

Iraq

Asked if the Prime Minister had had any thought about the reports over the weekend from the US that said that the UK was beaten in Iraq and that we were now facing rising violence and a Saigon situation, the PMS replied that people should look at the response that the Basra military spokesperson Major Michael Shearer gave this morning. Major Shearer had pointed out although that there had been increased violence, that this was not surprising due to the fact that malign forces are attempting to claim responsibility for what was in fact a long established strategy in the Basra province. Therefore, our strategy remained in place, and the Basra province would pass responsibility to the Iraqi forces as had happened in three of the four areas for which the UK had responsibility.

Asked if there was any chance of stepping up the Army presence in the other three provinces in light of the killing of the Provincial Governor, the PMS said that whilst she was aware of the reports, she was not going to comment on them in detail at this stage. There were challenges ahead for all the Iraqi security forces, but our strategy was as set out as before. With regards to a longer-term strategy, as President Bush and the Prime Minister said at Camp David recently, we were awaiting for General Petraeus’ report later in September.

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Iraq

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