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'Political paralysis' over Iraq 'Political paralysis' over Iraq
(about 5 hours later)
The government is gripped by "political paralysis" over Iraq, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has told the BBC.The government is gripped by "political paralysis" over Iraq, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has told the BBC.
"We have got political paralysis and, at the same time, a drawing back of responsibility," he told Today."We have got political paralysis and, at the same time, a drawing back of responsibility," he told Today.
"I can't remember the last time I heard a senior... minister on your programme defending the policy in Iraq," he said."I can't remember the last time I heard a senior... minister on your programme defending the policy in Iraq," he said.
Tony Blair has previously rejected any suggestion he has avoided debate about Iraq, saying it has been raised and debated many times in the Commons. A Foreign Office spokesman denied this, saying Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett had done two BBC interviews on Iraq recently.
On Wednesday nearly 200 people died in a string of attacks in Baghdad, despite a US security "surge" in the capital. He said she had answered questions on Iraq for Radio Five Live and, on the fourth anniversary of the invasion in March, on the BBC's Politics Show.
'War on terror''War on terror'
Sir Menzies told the BBC Radio 4 programme senior figures, like Cabinet minister Hilary Benn, had distanced themselves from the phrase "war on terror".Sir Menzies told the BBC Radio 4 programme senior figures, like Cabinet minister Hilary Benn, had distanced themselves from the phrase "war on terror".
And he said comments by former minister Helen Liddell - now the British high commissioner in Australia - that Iraq had never been part of the "war on terror" appeared to "undermine the whole philosophy the prime minister has used".And he said comments by former minister Helen Liddell - now the British high commissioner in Australia - that Iraq had never been part of the "war on terror" appeared to "undermine the whole philosophy the prime minister has used".
I accepted a moral obligation, but that moral obligation cannot be open-ended Sir Menzies Campbell Iraq not war on terror, says envoyI accepted a moral obligation, but that moral obligation cannot be open-ended Sir Menzies Campbell Iraq not war on terror, says envoy
The bombings on Wednesday come after thousands of extra US troops were sent to Baghdad to bolster Iraqi forces. But the Foreign Office spokesman said the reasons for going to war in Iraq were "well documented" and the reasons for the violence there were complex, from "intercommunal" fighting, to militias and terrorist groups.
He added: "We did not go into Iraq as part of the war on terror. The reasons are well known, there was a non-compliance with a UN Security Council resolution."
On Wednesday nearly 200 people died in a string of attacks in Baghdad, despite thousands of extra US troops being sent to Baghdad to bolster Iraqi forces.
Dr Zuhair al Nahar, on behalf of Iraq's ruling Dawa Party, told the BBC the US security operation had produced "excellent results so far", but was only at the beginning and would probably take until the end of the year.Dr Zuhair al Nahar, on behalf of Iraq's ruling Dawa Party, told the BBC the US security operation had produced "excellent results so far", but was only at the beginning and would probably take until the end of the year.
'Cut and run''Cut and run'
But Sir Menzies, who in January called for British troops to be withdrawn by October, said his optimism was not justified.But Sir Menzies, who in January called for British troops to be withdrawn by October, said his optimism was not justified.
He repeated calls for British troops to be withdrawn, but said that could now not be achieved by October.He repeated calls for British troops to be withdrawn, but said that could now not be achieved by October.
Asked whether it was right to "cut and run", Sir Menzies said: "I accepted a moral obligation, but that moral obligation cannot be open-ended and we have a moral obligation to our own young men and women."Asked whether it was right to "cut and run", Sir Menzies said: "I accepted a moral obligation, but that moral obligation cannot be open-ended and we have a moral obligation to our own young men and women."
He added: "It is four years since the military action ceased and in that time we have committed a lot of money, we have committed a lot of fine young men and women and lost more than 140 of them.He added: "It is four years since the military action ceased and in that time we have committed a lot of money, we have committed a lot of fine young men and women and lost more than 140 of them.
"There is a point at which we can no longer justify that degree of commitment.""There is a point at which we can no longer justify that degree of commitment."
Wednesday's attacks, among the deadliest in four years, happened as the British formally handed over the southern province of Maysan to the Iraqi authorities.Wednesday's attacks, among the deadliest in four years, happened as the British formally handed over the southern province of Maysan to the Iraqi authorities.
It is the fourth of 18 provinces to come under Iraqi control - Iraq's prime minister Nouri Maliki has said Iraqi forces would take control of security across the country by the end of the year.It is the fourth of 18 provinces to come under Iraqi control - Iraq's prime minister Nouri Maliki has said Iraqi forces would take control of security across the country by the end of the year.
British troop numbers are being scaled down from about 7,000 troops stationed in southern Iraq around Basra to about 5,000 by late summer.British troop numbers are being scaled down from about 7,000 troops stationed in southern Iraq around Basra to about 5,000 by late summer.