Political Crossfire Forums

[MoscowMatt]

From BBC news on-line http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6160626.stm

Chancellor Gordon Brown is making his first visit to Iraq and has promised an extra £100m ($188m) over three years to help rebuild the country's economy.
After meeting UK troops near Basra, he praised their "tremendous morale" and the "work they have been doing in often very difficult circumstances".

Mr Brown also discussed Iraq's economy with senior ministers.

Earlier, Tony Blair publicly agreed that violence in Iraq since the US-led 2003 invasion had been a "disaster".

'Security and prosperity'

Mr Brown, whose visit had been kept secret, said: "We are committed to supporting the Iraqis in building a democratic nation which brings security and prosperity to its people and plays a full part in the region and the world economy."

We are committed to supporting the Iraqis in building a democratic nation

Gordon Brown


In pictures: Brown in Iraq

The chancellor - the favourite to succeed Mr Blair as prime minister - is seen as keen to increase his profile outside his Treasury brief.

Travelling with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, he met Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh.

Mr Brown told members of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment: "I know you are called the Tigers, and you are proud and courageous tigers and everyone in Britain is very proud of you.

"I hope you will have a restful Christmas."

Police 'problem'

The UK has 7,200 troops in the south of Iraq, mostly stationed in and around Basra, but the city remains dangerous with factions battling for control.

Assistant Chief Constable Dick Barton - advising the Iraqi police force - said large numbers of officers would have to be replaced to reduce militia influence.

It's not difficult because of some accident in planning... It's difficult because there's a deliberate strategy

Tony Blair


Blair accepts Iraq 'disaster'

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the "culture difference" was making reform difficult.

Earlier, Mr Blair was questioned by Sir David Frost in an interview on the al-Jazeera English-language Arabic TV channel about the situation in Iraq.

When asked whether the violence had "so far been pretty much of a disaster", the prime minister replied: "It has, but you see what I say to people is why is it difficult in Iraq?

"It's not difficult because of some accident in planning."

Those involved in the insurgency had a "deliberate strategy" which had to be overcome, Mr Blair added.

The Liberal Democrats said the prime minister had now accepted the enormity of his decision to go to war in Iraq.

But Downing Street insisted his views had been misrepresented
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Will the Government ever put this country first?? i.e that £100 million would have done nicely for the NHS. Things like this just make by blood boil. Why on earth does an oil rich country need financial aid anyway?!! :roll:

[Clarino]

MoscowMatt wrote:
Will the Government ever put this country first??

Not as long as Labour are in power.



Vote Tory, or we're all f*cked.

[Chymical]

lol, vote Tory? I'd rather drink meths, in fact...

ah, that's better... 100 milllion pounds, is like 2 quid from each of our pockets to help the Iraqi economy...

I want by 2 quid back and the other COUPLE OF THOUSAND this was is/will cost.

hospitals are scheduled to close over debts fraction of 100 million

[Plato & Socrates]

MoscowMatt wrote:

Will the Government ever put this country first?? i.e that £100 million would have done nicely for the NHS. Things like this just make by blood boil. Why on earth does an oil rich country need financial aid anyway?!! :roll:

This war on terror including Iraq and Afghanistan, has cost the British tax-payer approximately £8 Billion.
Iraq might be oil rich, but we broke it. I cant smash your house up, and then claim I'm not paying for the damages because you have your own money. Its like the fine china shop, you break it you pay for it. No-body told us to invade and f**k up Iraq. Even though i'm extremely pissed off at my money being spent there. We have a obligation to do so. Then again this latest £100 million will have the usual strings. It will be £100 million spent on the condition it is carried out by British contractors etc etc. Hopefully issues like this should in future show idiots to look past the rhetoric, catchy slogans and bulls**t, to see and understand all the other hidden aspects of war, our leaders like to keep quite. Moscowmatt, we will be paying for this for years, and our children will be paying for our short-sightedness to.

[MoscowMatt]

Plato & Socrates wrote: MoscowMatt wrote:

Will the Government ever put this country first?? i.e that £100 million would have done nicely for the NHS. Things like this just make by blood boil. Why on earth does an oil rich country need financial aid anyway?!! :roll:

This war on terror including Iraq and Afghanistan, has cost the British tax-payer approximately £8 Billion.
Iraq might be oil rich, but we broke it. I cant smash your house up, and then claim I'm not paying for the damages because you have your own money. Its like the fine china shop, you break it you pay for it. No-body told us to invade and f**k up Iraq. Even though i'm extremely pissed off at my money being spent there. We have a obligation to do so. Then again this latest £100 million will have the usual strings. It will be £100 million spent on the condition it is carried out by British contractors etc etc. Hopefully issues like this should in future show idiots to look past the rhetoric, catchy slogans and bulls**t, to see and understand all the other hidden aspects of war, our leaders like to keep quite. Moscowmatt, we will be paying for this for years, and our children will be paying for our short-sightedness to.

Funny but I never heard the one about us giving Serbia £100 million in aid. They would have needed it more if anything.