‘Urgent review’ of UK troops for Iraq underway

An urgent review of British troop numbers in Iraq is being carried out as the UK considers sending more troops in, as attacks on coalition forces continue.

This morning, Conservative Shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin said Britain would have to “bite the bullet” even though resources were overstretched following the campaign in Iraq.

Speaking yesterday, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that troop numbers were “constantly under review” but that unless a recommendation for more troops came from military commanders, they would not be provided.

However, Mr Jenkin, when questioned if the prime minister knew what was going on, said: “When Parliament returns on Monday, the opposition will be demanding a full Parliamentary statement from the defence secretary about the military situation in Iraq.

“The MoD's decision to announce a review of UK troop levels in Iraq confirms that there is a crisis in the MoD. Labour has given us the smallest army since the days of Wellington. They have failed to recruit the 5,000 extra soldiers they promised. Now they cannot run military operations without overworking our soldiers and cancelling vital training.”

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, who has opposed the war, cautiously backed a “positive approach” to the Iraq situation.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that a review of the troop situation would be ready in time for the recalling of Parliament next Monday, September 8.

Earlier this week, a leaked memo from Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to Tony Blair is reported to have warned that 5,000 more British troops may be required for duty in Iraq or there was a risk of a “strategic failure”.

(SP)