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Bush and blair speed up their exit strategy { May 17 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/16211.htmlhttp://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/16211.html
Bush and Blair speed up their exit strategy
CATHERINE MacLEOD May 17 2004
TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to ensure the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign government supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's spokesman last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure for a change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the prime minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more troops there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new strategy in an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political and military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted by speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job done, denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war critics on both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few weeks and it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people need to see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a strategy of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of authority to an Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the strategy in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about the feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of his visit, three bombs exploded outside branches of the British bank, HSBC, in Ankara and Istanbul.
The bombs caused minor damage and no casualties but were a sharp reminder of four devastating blasts which targeted British and Jewish targets in Istanbul in November, including the main local offices of HSBC in the city. Sixty one people, including the British consul, Roger Short, died in those attacks, blamed on a Turkish Islamist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
Yesterday, Mr Cook demanded the government find a quick exit strategy for British troops once the elections are held next January since they were now so unpopular, but Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, gave his remarks short shrift. Expressing disappointment in his former cabinet colleague, Mr Hoon said: "I worked with him when he was foreign secretary. He knows these decisions have to be taken in light of events on the ground . . . events for the moment certainly require the presence of British troops on the ground."
According to a report in a Sunday newspaper, allies of Gordon Brown believe Mr Cook would return to the cabinet if Mr Blair stood down to make way for the chancellor. But there are those who believe Mr Brown would never consider reinstating Mr Cook.
Whitehall sources suggested yesterday that the prime minister had taken advantage of a nervous US administration to persuade them to embrace the UN and speed up the handover of political and military control in Iraq.
Downing Street disclosed the new plan was proceeding on a twin approach.
On the security side, the coalition was speeding up creation of the Iraqi army, civil defence and intelligence services, and had focused on creating and training Iraqi authorities. Major General David Petraeus has been put in charge of the speeded-up process and British sources said he is keen to learn lessons from the south of Iraq where the British troops were in charge of security.
On the political side, the coalition has accepted there "must be a real, visible difference when power is transferred on June 30 and that there is a sovereign Iraqi government which is supported by a new UN resolution that will set out arrangements for a multi-national force".
The net was closing yesterday around the soldiers behind the faked Daily Mirror Iraqi prisoner abuse photographs. Military investigators hope that the newspaper will reveal their identities this week.
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