David Cracknell, Political Editor
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Mortars rocked the British Army headquarters in Basra yesterday minutes after Tony Blair had bidden an emotional farewell to troops.
Two shells exploded as the prime minister prepared to leave the base in southern Iraq after a surprise visit. Neither the prime minister nor anyone else was hurt and the mortars exploded some distance from him.
Officials emphasised that the prime minister was not in any danger and played down suggestions that insurgents had made an attempt on his life. Blair himself pointed out that such attacks were a daily occurrence for troops in Basra.
Twenty minutes after the incident, the all-clear sounded and the base returned to normal. Later a military spokesman described the attack as indirect fire and said he could not be sure it was connected to the visit.
It was Blair’s second taste of Iraq’s dangers in one day. Earlier a mortar round hit the British embassy car park in the heavily fortified green zone in Baghdad shortly before he arrived.
Downing Street said there was no evidence that this attack had been directed at him either.
“There are mortar attacks and terrorist attacks happening every day, that’s the reality,” said Blair. “The question is, what are we going to do in the face of these attacks?
“The answer is, we don’t give in to them. The very purpose of the attacks, the suicide bombs, the mortars aimed in here, is so that you will carry nothing but that on your news and won’t actually talk about the progress that’s happening here.”
Blair was speaking after talks with Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, and President Jalal Talabani, who said security in the country was improving. “Why don’t you listen to what the president of Iraq says about Iraq?” Blair interjected. “They are not saying there’s no violence or terrorism but they are saying there’s also change.
“These guys are facing this danger every single day, all the time, but they are not giving in. They are standing up to it and we stand up to it.”
He added: “There are things happening in different parts of Iraq that do give us cause for hope, for the prospects of reconciliation between people, but it is important we continue to take whatever action is necessary against Al-Qaeda or anyone who would use violence and terrorism to thwart the progress of the country.”
Blair said his policy on Iraq would be continued by Gordon Brown.
He warned that Iran – which is believed to supply technology for lethal roadside bombs against British troops – “has got to understand it can’t support terrorism”.
Asked whether he would have done things differently in Iraq with the benefit of hindsight, Blair said: “Iraq was liberated from a terrible dictatorship under Saddam and now there are attempts to oppress it in a different way with terrorism and violence.”
The prime minister also praised the “brilliant” work of British troops.
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Rice Calls Iraq War 'Worth The Investment'
(Washington Post, December 22, 2006, Pg. 11)
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Iraq is "worth the investment" in American lives and dollars. The top U.S. diplomat said that the United States can win in Iraq, although the war so far has been longer and more difficult than expected.
US Vice President Cheney on "Larry King Live" May 2005 : "I think we may well have some kind of presence there over a period of time," Cheney said. "The level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline. I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency."
Ronnie, Paris,
Steve in Baghdad. I hate to be picky, but mortars do not have the range to hit the the base where Tony Blair was visiting . These were rockets. Being in Baghdad, you will know that incoming rocket fire is a pretty frightening experience. The rockets are 'accurate', in as much as they keep hitting our bases!
I don't think I overstated the danger. I was merely questioning the statement in the article, that the PM was 'not in any danger'.
Jonathan, Launceston, UK
There are things happening in different parts of Iraq that do give us cause for hope, for the prospects of reconciliation between people, but it is important we continue to take whatever action is necessary against Al-Qaeda or anyone who would use violence and terrorism to thwart the progress of the country.
Do Al-Queda have anything do do with Iraq??
Steve, Dublin, Ireland
Toni Blair's vision of a "world war on anti-freedom" groups is correct. Other nations must understand his accruate vision and come forth with political and armed support. He is a sterling respresentative of a leader who leads and does not accept subjective news media poll results. He now has a tremendious opportunity to continue his vision by applying his courage and talents world wide.
Donald, DULUTH, Minnesota
Why do i have a feeling that we're not wanted in Iraq?
John, London, UK
Sorry but the hypocrisy of this gets to me every time he opens his mouth, he should keep it shut. The West supports islamic regimes in the middle East that treat their people like animals and foreigners even worse, one of those countries supplied virtually all of the 9/11 hijackers and not one Western bomb was dropped on that country. Add to this the support for an illegal thug-ridden regime in israel and it just makes me fuming mad to talk about Iran supporting terrorists when the West has, and is, still supporting them all over the middle East. It seems as long as you invest your funds in the West you can blow away twin towers anywhere you want with absolute impunity. This whole thing stinks and no amount of clever words will cover up the fact this was one unholy mess from start to finish and huge numbers of people in the UK told him so long before we ever went in. Ask anyone in Iraq if they'd rather have Saddam, without sanctions, or "Bliar" and we know what the answer would be.
John, Dundee, UK
Were there mortars at the same distance from
number 10, panic would break out and the odd Brasilian
might be shot. It shows that normality in Iraq is constant
warfare by a people seeking to drive out occupation forces.
heiko khoo, london, uk
The only danger Mr Blair was in was of having to face the disaster the illegal invasion of Iraq has wrought and admit he was wrong.
Richard Cheeseman, Wellington, New Zealand
May be it was Gordon Brown getting impatient !!
More seriously,why shouldn't Blair get a bit of a fright and taste of what he has exposed British troops too? It may shake him out of his endless platitudes about Iraq and prompt him to make an honest ,spontaneous comment for once................he owes the troops that at least.
John, Beijing, China
When Blair said the question is what are we going to do in the face of these attacks he should have sought out the nearest British mortar tube or artillery piece and personally....fired back! Actions speak louder than words, and you have to admit...that would have been one hell of a way to leave the scene!
Murph, Madisonville, USA/KY
I thought our soldiers would have been more accurate than that!
Alan Griffiths., chigwell, essex
Jonathan from Launceston, actually he wasn't really in danger. These mortars are not actually that powerful - they have to land pretty much on top of you to do any damage and it's impossible for the insurgents to land them accurately. Obviously more danger than in say Cheddar Gorge, but not worth over stating.
Steve, Baghdad, Iraq
"Officials emphasised that the prime minister was not in any danger"
Really? So they can now predict where rockets are going to land. These were high explosive rockets, not corner shop fireworks. The PM was in some danger.
Jonathan, Launceston, UK
These guys go over to Iraq and talk up how much progress is being made, while hundreds of helicopters cricleing overhead and thousands of troops guarding them still can not stop an attack. Blair and Bush do not have a clue.
Roger Davidson, Yona, Guam