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| Back troops, says UK Iraq general | Back troops, says UK Iraq general |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The head of British forces in southern Iraq has called for national support for soldiers serving in the country. | The head of British forces in southern Iraq has called for national support for soldiers serving in the country. |
| Major General Richard Shirreff told the BBC that issues such as underfunding must be addressed in order to maintain the quality of his force's work. | Major General Richard Shirreff told the BBC that issues such as underfunding must be addressed in order to maintain the quality of his force's work. |
| He said: "The nation needs to support these men. The nation needs to support its Army." | He said: "The nation needs to support these men. The nation needs to support its Army." |
| His comments came after an interviewer suggested many British soldiers in Iraq had complained of "running on empty". | His comments came after an interviewer suggested many British soldiers in Iraq had complained of "running on empty". |
| Maj Gen Shirreff said: "The nation needs to understand that the quality work done by these courageous men and women out here only happens and can only continue if these people, our soldiers, are properly supported back home in terms of the support for training, infrastructure, barracks, accommodation." | Maj Gen Shirreff said: "The nation needs to understand that the quality work done by these courageous men and women out here only happens and can only continue if these people, our soldiers, are properly supported back home in terms of the support for training, infrastructure, barracks, accommodation." |
| This is Iraq, this is Arabia and this is reality, so a 60% solution is good enough for me Major General Richard Shirreff | |
| "Some of these issues need solving," he said. | |
| "Many of these issues are the result of a generation of underfunding and relative neglect." | |
| However, Maj Gen Shirreff made it clear that he felt the problems related to a general malaise, rather than ones relating to governance. | |
| "I don't blame any particular party or government, I think this is a general issue," he said, adding that those injured in service needed to be well looked after when they returned home. | |
| He said: "There's a whole range of areas - it's not just the sharp end here." | |
| Maj Gen Shirreff also referred to a "military covenant between the nation and its soldiers", which he said was now "seriously out of kilter". | |
| 'Completely unrepentant' | |
| And, suggesting that British ambitions in Iraq had been scaled back, he went on: "Clearly I would love a 100% solution. | |
| "When I set up, came up here and initiated the operations we have been conducting, I was looking for a 100% solution. | |
| "But this is Iraq, this is Arabia and this is reality, so a 60% solution is good enough for me." | |
| Meanwhile, the military leader has referred to the demolition of an Iraqi police station as a turning point in the battle with Basra's death squads. | |
| He made it clear that he remained "completely unrepentant" about the Christmas Day operation, despite some criticism from provincial council leaders. |