WAR: 52 Ex U.K Diplomats Slam Iraq Policy

In a major slap in the face for Tony Blair 52 former U.K diplomats have written to The Prime Minister severely criticising him for following U.S Iraqi policy which they described as 'doomed' and 'naive'. The letter, signed by a veritable roll call of senior ex diplomats including former ambassadors to Baghdad and Tel-Aviv called for Mr. Blair to act on the U.S. Iraq policy or stop backing it.

Bloomberg
[The diplomats] told Blair they had "watched with deepening concern'' as the U.K. followed the U.S.'s Middle East policies and called for a debate in Parliament, the BBC said.

Lack of planning and "misunderstanding'' had led to Britain being in "an extremely difficult situation in Iraq,'' the BBC cited Miles as saying.

The letter claims Blair should use his alliance with U.S. President George W. Bush to try to influence U.S. policies in Iraq, the BBC said.

The former diplomats also criticized the U.S.' endorsement of the Israeli plan to retain some settlements in the West Bank, the BBC said.



[Edited on 27-4-2004 by SkepticOverlord]

Senior Minister Mike O'Brien has hit back at the claims insisting Tony Blair has succeeded in influencing U.S policy in Iraq and Israel. The Minister stated: "We can influence the US." "But we can't control a superpower. They listen to our quiet diplomacy but they also have their own policy - we influence each other."

Mr O�Brien also commented on the diplomats criticisms on Blair�s handling of the Israel/Palestine situation which included claims Mr Blair had "merely waited" for the US to advance a "roadmap" for peace:

BBC

Mr O'Brien, a foreign office minister, said there were a number of areas where Mr Blair had been able to influence the US position.

"Certainly everyone would accept we have had some influence in encouraging President Bush to become the first US president to call for a Palestinian state independent of Israel and to support the whole road map process," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"Certainly Tony Blair has encouraged President Bush to move down that road. Indeed ... President Bush said he supported a two state solution and that's our policy too"

But Mr O'Brien said he could not comment on whether Mr Bush had consulted Mr Blair before giving his support to Israel's plan to leave Gaza and parts of the West Bank.

[Edited on 27-4-2004 by kegs]

Full Text Of The Letter

We the undersigned former British ambassadors, high commissioners, governors and senior international officials, including some who have long experience of the Middle East and others whose experience is elsewhere, have watched with deepening concern the policies which you have followed on the Arab-Israel problem and Iraq, in close co-operation with the United States.