Britain’s withdrawal from a chaotic Basra has “badly damaged” its military reputation, a commander honoured for his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq said today.

Colonel Tim Collins, who rose to prominence as commander of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, delivered a scathing indictment of British efforts to stabilise the southern Iraqi province, saying that “great incompetence” in the military leadership had left it in “chaos.”

“I think the whole enterprise has been characterised by muddled thinking and lack of planning and over-optimism,” he told BBC Radio 4.

His comments followed Britain’s handover yesterday of security responsibilities to Iraqi authorities in Basra, the last of four provinces in the oil-rich south under British control, and came after the release of a videotape from Osama bin Laden's deputy crowing at Britain's "decision to flee" Basra.

Though ministers insist the transfer is the result of an improving security situation in the region, others, including figures in the British and American militaries, have characterised it as a retreat rather than a withdrawal.

Colonel Collins attracted international attention with an inspirational address to his troops on March 19, 2003 as they prepared to push north through Iraq, a copy of which was hung in the Oval Office. "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory," he said. "Let's bring everyone home and leave Iraq a better place for us having been there."

Today, he said that there had been no clear mission in place for British troops following the defeat of the Iraqi army.

“There were far too few resources on the ground. Disastrous mistakes like the disbandment of the Iraqi police and army handed a situation of chaos to those who could exploit that.

“My own view is frankly that there was great incompetence in the military leadership. Those who agreed to cut the size of the Armed Forces, as they did in 2003, at the same time agreed to taking on a further commitment in Afghanistanin the sure and certain knowledge that they were unable to cope in Basra. It is deep incompetence, in my view.

“I think that the removal of Saddam Hussein was a good thing. I think the chaos in Basra is a temporary thing, because I am certain that the US - which is fast getting control of the rest of the country - will sort it out.

“It leaves the UK’s military reputation badly damaged.”

Meanwhile , the al-Qaeda No 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has said that Britain’s “decision to flee” Basra was proof that the insurgency in Iraq was stronger than ever.

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