Straw orders review of troop levels

BRITAIN’S Defence Secretary has ordered a review of British troop levels in Iraq following weeks of heightened insecurity, but British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday that there has been no decision to send additional forces.

The announcement that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had ordered a review of troop levels followed a published report yesterday that Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had proposed the deployment of 5,000 more British military personnel in Iraq.

“In the light of events in Iraq over past weeks, the defence secretary has asked for a review of the forces and resources required to support UK operations,” the Defence Ministry said.

Britain has 11,000 troops in Iraq. Forty-nine British soldiers have died in the war, with 11 of them killed since May 1, when US President George W Bush declared an end to major fighting.

“We keep it under review constantly because we’ve got to get the job done, but there are no decisions that have been taken on additional troops,” Mr Blair said yesterday.

“Unless there’s a recommendation that comes forward from our military commanders that they require more troops, we don’t provide them.”

Mr Blair blamed security problems in Iraq on supporters of ousted president Saddam Hussein and terrorist groups which have sabotaged efforts to restore services.

“Of course, it’s a difficult situation,” Mr Blair said, adding that he was determined to see it through. “This is a necessary fight, not just for Britain and America, but for all the world. If this goes wrong, then the Middle East goes wrong.”

A British newspaper yesterday reported seeing notes drawn up for a meeting between Mr Straw and Mr Blair in which the foreign secretary urged sending more British troops to Iraq to help improve security.

The paper quoted Mr Straw’s notes as warning that “lack of political progress in solving the linked problems of security, infrastructure and the political process are undermining the consent of the Iraqi people to the coalition presence and providing fertile ground for extremists and terrorists”.

The Foreign Office said it never comments on leaked documents, but added that “obviously the foreign secretary discusses Iraq with the prime minister on a regular basis”.

Mr Blair’s office also said it wouldn’t comment on a leak. Lewis Moonie, a former Defence Minister in Mr Blair’s government, said he would not be surprised if more troops are sent to Iraq.