Message to YOU from Tony Blair:>>We Cannot Let People of Hatred Triumph
PMdefends Britain's Role in Iraq on Visit to Country
Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), 2006-12-18
By MICHAEL SETTLE CHIEF UK POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
ON his fifth and possibly final visit as Prime Minister to Iraq, Tony Blair yesterday delivered an impassioned defence of Britain's role in the strifetorn country, declaring that the UK stood behind the new democracy.
Standing between two union flags at Basra air base, he told a crowd of armed forces personnel that they were involved in a struggle for essential values against a "different kind of enemy".
"Our country and countries like it are having to rediscover what it means to fight for what we believe in. All over the world the same struggle is going on and if we don't stand up and fight for the people of tolerance and moderation who want to live together, whatever their fate, then the people of hatred and sectarianism will triumph."
Before addressing the troop Mr Blair chatted with dozens of soldiers from 19 Light Brigade, and signed one of the group's Challenger II tanks with the words: "Good luck! Tony Blair."
The Prime Minister told the soldiers: "Sometimes maybe you don't realise how much people back home appreciate what you do, value it and believe in you and what you are doing." Every time they took on extremists on the streets of Basra, he stressed, they were "striking a blow for the values that matter very much to people back home".
Earlier, Mr Blair flew into Baghdad for talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri al Maliki, as well as President Jalal Talabani. Afterwards, he said the moves to hand over control of security in Basra and other southern provinces to Iraqi forces were going well.
"Don't be under any doubts at all, British troops remain until the job is done and that job is moving up the Iraqi capabilities so Iraqi forces can carry out the security work."
He told Mr al Maliki: "I reiterate our determination to stand four square behind you and the Iraqi people in ensuring that your democracy is not destroyed by terrorism and sectarianism and those who wish to live in hatred rather than peace."
The Iraqi Prime Minister pointed out that when a withdrawal of coalition troops happened, it would not be sudden or a surprise but as "part of an agreement between us by which the security in Basra is handed to Iraqis".
Mr Talabani hailed Mr Blair and George W Bush, US President, as "the heroes of the liberation of 37 million Iraqis from the worst kind of dictatorship". He added: "We hope that as soon as possible we will be able to mobilise our forces and then these friends will be able to leave us."
While in Basra, Mr Blair was briefed on Operation Sinbad which involves British and Iraqi troops going through the city, rooting out insurgents and criminal gangs and helping rebuild facilities such as schools and clinics.
"As Iraq is more and more capable of taking on its own security tasks, then the requirement for our troops diminishes, " he explained.
Mr Blair's visit to Iraq was the third leg of a Middle Eastern trip to bolster moderate regimes and assist in the easing of tensions. He has already taken soundings from the leaders of Turkey and Egypt about the prospects for peace, ahead of planned meetings with Ehud Olmert, Israel's Prime Minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority.<<
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