seruriermarshal
05-28-2004, 07:43 PM
600 more troops for Iraq may be just the start
ALISON HARDIE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Key points:
• 600 Scottish troops ordered to Iraq, claims 3000 more troops to join them
• Black Watch to replace 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in July
• Shadow defence secretary questions if troops were adequately trained
Key Quote: "It remains the case that we, with our coalition partners, are considering the levels and disposition of forces required in Iraq in the months ahead, to support the sovereign interim government of Iraq through the process leading to the election of a transitional assembly and government early in 2005." - Geoff Hoon
Story in full: GEOFF Hoon, the Defence Secretary, yesterday ordered a 600-strong Scottish battlegroup to Iraq, stoking speculation that 3,000 more troops could be sent there after the handover of power on 30 June.
The MOD has been denying it intended to increase troop numbers in Iraq, and Mr Hoon insisted the rapid new deployments were simply "sensible adjustments". However, he failed to rule out further major British commitments as concerns grow that Iraq will turn ever more violent after an interim government takes over.
In particular, thousands of British troops could be deployed to secure the Shiite city of Najaf, which is currently outside the UK theatre of control, following the withdrawal of Spanish forces last month.
Mr Hoon said: "It remains the case that we, with our coalition partners, are considering the levels and disposition of forces required in Iraq in the months ahead, to support the sovereign interim government of Iraq through the process leading to the election of a transitional assembly and government early in 2005."
The Conservatives strongly criticised the return of the 1st Battalion Black Watch to Iraq after just one year.
Nicholas Soames, the shadow defence secretary, said the move smacked of an "astonishing manifestation of overstretch" and questioned whether the troops were adequately trained and kitted out with equipment suitable for desert conditions.
"It seems quite astonishing the first battalion the Defence Secretary chooses to deploy is the 1st Battalion Black Watch. He may realise the Black Watch fought through Telic One [the initial Iraq conflict] and have been back in England for less than a year," he said.
Mr Hoon replied: "The Black Watch have had appropriate training and they were the choice for that reason, given the requirements made by the general officer commanding.
"Those troops are available, they are trained for the job that they are required to do and I am confident they will be pleased to carry it out."
Mr Hoon told MPs an additional squadron of 170 troops from 36 Regiment Royal Engineers would be sent to repair damage to British positions after recent attacks.
The Black Watch will replace the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders when their tour of duty ends in July.
Mr Hoon said that would mean a net increase of 200 troops and was a response to the "continuing threat from violent groups in the area around Al Amarah". He also confirmed that 40 Commando Royal Marines had been put on standby if needed to replace troops engaged in training Iraqis to take over their security force.
Despite reservations about the choice of battalion, the Tories and Lib Dems backed the deployment, saying commanders should have the resources they need after an escalation in attacks on British forces.
Michael Howard, the Tory leader, said: "We support that. Our troops who are there are doing a very difficult and dangerous task and they are doing it magnificently. If they need help and if they need more reinforcements, we support that, and we agree with the government that we need to see it through."
From (http://news.scotsman.com/paperboy.cfm?id=606522004)
ALISON HARDIE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
Key points:
• 600 Scottish troops ordered to Iraq, claims 3000 more troops to join them
• Black Watch to replace 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in July
• Shadow defence secretary questions if troops were adequately trained
Key Quote: "It remains the case that we, with our coalition partners, are considering the levels and disposition of forces required in Iraq in the months ahead, to support the sovereign interim government of Iraq through the process leading to the election of a transitional assembly and government early in 2005." - Geoff Hoon
Story in full: GEOFF Hoon, the Defence Secretary, yesterday ordered a 600-strong Scottish battlegroup to Iraq, stoking speculation that 3,000 more troops could be sent there after the handover of power on 30 June.
The MOD has been denying it intended to increase troop numbers in Iraq, and Mr Hoon insisted the rapid new deployments were simply "sensible adjustments". However, he failed to rule out further major British commitments as concerns grow that Iraq will turn ever more violent after an interim government takes over.
In particular, thousands of British troops could be deployed to secure the Shiite city of Najaf, which is currently outside the UK theatre of control, following the withdrawal of Spanish forces last month.
Mr Hoon said: "It remains the case that we, with our coalition partners, are considering the levels and disposition of forces required in Iraq in the months ahead, to support the sovereign interim government of Iraq through the process leading to the election of a transitional assembly and government early in 2005."
The Conservatives strongly criticised the return of the 1st Battalion Black Watch to Iraq after just one year.
Nicholas Soames, the shadow defence secretary, said the move smacked of an "astonishing manifestation of overstretch" and questioned whether the troops were adequately trained and kitted out with equipment suitable for desert conditions.
"It seems quite astonishing the first battalion the Defence Secretary chooses to deploy is the 1st Battalion Black Watch. He may realise the Black Watch fought through Telic One [the initial Iraq conflict] and have been back in England for less than a year," he said.
Mr Hoon replied: "The Black Watch have had appropriate training and they were the choice for that reason, given the requirements made by the general officer commanding.
"Those troops are available, they are trained for the job that they are required to do and I am confident they will be pleased to carry it out."
Mr Hoon told MPs an additional squadron of 170 troops from 36 Regiment Royal Engineers would be sent to repair damage to British positions after recent attacks.
The Black Watch will replace the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders when their tour of duty ends in July.
Mr Hoon said that would mean a net increase of 200 troops and was a response to the "continuing threat from violent groups in the area around Al Amarah". He also confirmed that 40 Commando Royal Marines had been put on standby if needed to replace troops engaged in training Iraqis to take over their security force.
Despite reservations about the choice of battalion, the Tories and Lib Dems backed the deployment, saying commanders should have the resources they need after an escalation in attacks on British forces.
Michael Howard, the Tory leader, said: "We support that. Our troops who are there are doing a very difficult and dangerous task and they are doing it magnificently. If they need help and if they need more reinforcements, we support that, and we agree with the government that we need to see it through."
From (http://news.scotsman.com/paperboy.cfm?id=606522004)