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Huge majority of Iraqis want coalition to go
Ned Temko, chief political correspondent
10/23/05 "The
Observer" -- -- The government has been dealt an
embarrassing double blow in its battle to convince the public it is
beating insurgency in Iraq and the threat of terrorism at home,
according to confidential reports leaked to today's newspapers.
One claimed nearly half of all Iraqis sympathised with violent
attacks against British and US coalition troops; another said that
at home, Tony Blair's high-profile strategy to counter the terrorist
threat was proving disjointed and ineffective.
Downing Street, while saying it would not comment on 'allegedly
leaked reports', told The Observer last night that Britain remained
firm in its commitment to stay in Iraq until the elected government
felt it was ready to take over security responsibilities.
The figures on Iraqis' views about attacks on coalition troops came
from a nationwide opinion survey, commissioned by the Ministry of
Defence and leaked to the Sunday Telegraph
According to the report, fewer than one in 100 respondents felt the
presence of American, British and other allied troops was improving
security in the country.
Forty-five per cent countrywide were said to believe that the
attacks on the troops were justified - a figure that rose to 65 per
cent in the Maysan, one of the provinces policed by the British. No
fewer than 82 per cent, according to the report, declared themselves
'strongly opposed' to the presence of coalition troops.
The findings prompted the Conservative shadow defence minister,
Andrew Robathan, to call for a review of Britain's role in the
country.
'I am not advocating a pullout,' he emphasised. 'But if British
soldiers are putting their lives on the line for a cause which is
not supported by the Iraqi people, then we have to ask the question
"What are we doing there?"'
A separate leaked report, from the Prime Minister's policy delivery
unit, sharply criticised the anti-terror policy drawn up after last
year's Madrid train bombings and reinforced after the attacks on the
London transport system in July.
According to the Sunday Times, the report said: 'The strategy is
immature. Forward planning is disjointed or has yet to occur.' It
added: 'Accountability for delivery is weak. Real-world impact is
seldom measured.'
© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005
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