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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Vietnam 'affected Iraq planning' | Vietnam 'affected Iraq planning' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The "failures of Vietnam" hampered the US in planning for the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq, the UK inquiry to the war has heard. | The "failures of Vietnam" hampered the US in planning for the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq, the UK inquiry to the war has heard. |
| Former Defence Secretary John Reid said this "terrible mistake" meant that military chiefs "weren't thinking of detailed nation-building". | Former Defence Secretary John Reid said this "terrible mistake" meant that military chiefs "weren't thinking of detailed nation-building". |
| But, he added, the US forces quickly learned their lesson and were now "ahead of" the UK in this respect. | But, he added, the US forces quickly learned their lesson and were now "ahead of" the UK in this respect. |
| Mr Reid became defence secretary in May 2005, two years after the invasion. | Mr Reid became defence secretary in May 2005, two years after the invasion. |
| The insurgency was growing at the time, although Mr Reid said the danger of "civil war" had been exaggerated, and the British press had been "salivating at the prospect". | The insurgency was growing at the time, although Mr Reid said the danger of "civil war" had been exaggerated, and the British press had been "salivating at the prospect". |
| 'Pulled down pillars' | 'Pulled down pillars' |
| But the US-instigated disbandment of Saddam Hussein's civil service had caused problems, as had the disintegration of the Iraqi army. | But the US-instigated disbandment of Saddam Hussein's civil service had caused problems, as had the disintegration of the Iraqi army. |
| Mr Reid said: "There was a recognition that, having pulled down the pillars, that this was not going to rise again - this state - like a phoenix from the flames." | Mr Reid said: "There was a recognition that, having pulled down the pillars, that this was not going to rise again - this state - like a phoenix from the flames." |
| There has been strong criticism of the US for focusing on the war itself and not dealing in sufficient detail with the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq. | There has been strong criticism of the US for focusing on the war itself and not dealing in sufficient detail with the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq. |
| Peter Biles, BBC World Affairs correspondent: John Reid, once a parliamentary enforcer for Tony Blair, has come to the former prime minister's defence. | |
| He gave a contrasting view of the Blair government to the one portrayed by Clare Short on Tuesday. | |
| Mr Reid said he had had every opportunity to ask questions in cabinet, and had never felt any inhibition in telling Mr Blair he was wrong. | |
| "Some cabinet ministers were constantly telling him he was wrong," Mr Reid added. | |
| Ms Short, however, had claimed that her views were stifled at the crucial moment in March 2003 when the cabinet received the attorney general's advice on the legality of the Iraq war. | |
| Mr Reid closed his evidence by recording his "deep sadness at the loss of life" in Iraq. "There are families who hurt grievously and that's perfectly understandable," he said. | |
| It is a shame the bereaved families who came to see Mr Blair give evidence last Friday did not get a similar message of regret. | |
| Mr Reid told the inquiry: "We cannot truly appreciate the US approach to this without also recognising the legacy and the inherited culture of American military doctrine from Vietnam onwards... | Mr Reid told the inquiry: "We cannot truly appreciate the US approach to this without also recognising the legacy and the inherited culture of American military doctrine from Vietnam onwards... |
| He added that "the US took a view that, as a result of Vietnam, it was not going to be dragged into reconstruction again. | He added that "the US took a view that, as a result of Vietnam, it was not going to be dragged into reconstruction again. |
| "Because of the failures of Iraq, the terrible mistake was not to recognise that Iraq was not Vietnam, that Afghanistan was not Vietnam. | "Because of the failures of Iraq, the terrible mistake was not to recognise that Iraq was not Vietnam, that Afghanistan was not Vietnam. |
| "The inheritance of that was that American soldiers fought on the battlefield and away from nation-building." | "The inheritance of that was that American soldiers fought on the battlefield and away from nation-building." |
| Former head of US Central Command, general Tommy Franks, was among those whose view had been moulded by the Vietnam experience, Mr Reid said. | Former head of US Central Command, general Tommy Franks, was among those whose view had been moulded by the Vietnam experience, Mr Reid said. |
| However, he added: "I think they did learn it [the importance of reconstruction]. I think they are better at learning than we are. They are better at critical self-assessment than we are. In this country we want a stick to beat people with... | However, he added: "I think they did learn it [the importance of reconstruction]. I think they are better at learning than we are. They are better at critical self-assessment than we are. In this country we want a stick to beat people with... |
| "I think they came from behind us and they are now ahead of us." | "I think they came from behind us and they are now ahead of us." |
| A declassified document released on Tuesday shows defence chiefs warned that sending extra troops to Afghanistan while the UK was still committed in Iraq would lead to "some pain and grief". | A declassified document released on Tuesday shows defence chiefs warned that sending extra troops to Afghanistan while the UK was still committed in Iraq would lead to "some pain and grief". |
| 'No overstretched' | |
| In particular, "pinch points" including helicopter support, specialist intelligence and medical provision would remain for longer than had been hoped, a letter sent to Mr Reid says. | In particular, "pinch points" including helicopter support, specialist intelligence and medical provision would remain for longer than had been hoped, a letter sent to Mr Reid says. |
| Asked at the inquiry whether the decision to move UK troops into Afghanistan's violent Helmand province in spring 2006 had led to military sources being overstretched, Mr Reid said: "I think we were stretched. I think we were taut, but my military advice was, 'We are not overstretched. We can do this'." | Asked at the inquiry whether the decision to move UK troops into Afghanistan's violent Helmand province in spring 2006 had led to military sources being overstretched, Mr Reid said: "I think we were stretched. I think we were taut, but my military advice was, 'We are not overstretched. We can do this'." |
| Sir Kevin Tebbit: ''The Treasury felt we were using far too much cash'' | Sir Kevin Tebbit: ''The Treasury felt we were using far too much cash'' |
| Mr Reid added: "There is only one perfect science and that is hindsight." | Mr Reid added: "There is only one perfect science and that is hindsight." |
| Earlier, the inquiry heard that Gordon Brown, when chancellor, had insisted on a "complete guillotine" of defence spending in December 2003 - just nine months after the invasion of Iraq was launched. | Earlier, the inquiry heard that Gordon Brown, when chancellor, had insisted on a "complete guillotine" of defence spending in December 2003 - just nine months after the invasion of Iraq was launched. |
| Former Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Sir Kevin Tebbit called the £1bn cut "arbitrary". | Former Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Sir Kevin Tebbit called the £1bn cut "arbitrary". |
| He said: "In the December of 2003, the chancellor of the day instituted a complete guillotine on our settlement, and we were, from then on, controlled by cash rather than resources... | He said: "In the December of 2003, the chancellor of the day instituted a complete guillotine on our settlement, and we were, from then on, controlled by cash rather than resources... |
| "It meant that we had to go in for a very major savings exercise." | "It meant that we had to go in for a very major savings exercise." |
| But the settlement of 2004 resulted in "almost £4bn of extra cash" | But the settlement of 2004 resulted in "almost £4bn of extra cash" |
| This agreement had been reached "at about 10 at night by the chancellor, the defence secretary and myself - about six hours before the whole public spending settlement was published", Sir Kevin said. | This agreement had been reached "at about 10 at night by the chancellor, the defence secretary and myself - about six hours before the whole public spending settlement was published", Sir Kevin said. |
| He added: "I think it's fair to say that the Treasury as a whole didn't want us to get as much as we got." | He added: "I think it's fair to say that the Treasury as a whole didn't want us to get as much as we got." |
| "The final settlement in 2004 was a normal, hard negotiation... The guillotine that came in 2003 was an arbitrary issue." | "The final settlement in 2004 was a normal, hard negotiation... The guillotine that came in 2003 was an arbitrary issue." |
| Sir Kevin said: "That would not have made an effect on Iraq or Afghanistan... but [would have involved] a longer-term restructuring of the defence programme." | Sir Kevin said: "That would not have made an effect on Iraq or Afghanistan... but [would have involved] a longer-term restructuring of the defence programme." |
| Several witnesses have told the inquiry that preparations for what became a long campaign, including equipment provision, were inadequate. | Several witnesses have told the inquiry that preparations for what became a long campaign, including equipment provision, were inadequate. |
| Last week, former Prime Minister Tony Blair told the inquiry that planning for the immediate aftermath of the initial military campaign had not been "cavalier". | Last week, former Prime Minister Tony Blair told the inquiry that planning for the immediate aftermath of the initial military campaign had not been "cavalier". |
| The Iraq inquiry is looking at the UK's role in the build-up, conduct and aftermath of the Iraq war, in which 179 service personnel died. It is expected to report next year. | The Iraq inquiry is looking at the UK's role in the build-up, conduct and aftermath of the Iraq war, in which 179 service personnel died. It is expected to report next year. |