Maliki to Brits: You can go home now

posted at 11:45 am on October 13, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the Times of London that Iraq had no further need for British combat troops in Basra or the southern region of the country.  Maliki said he looked forward to a strong diplomatic partnership with the UK, but did not hide his disdain for British commanders who conceded the South to the Mahdi Army.  Unlike his attempt to formalize a strong military presence with the US, Maliki seems happy to wave good-bye to the British Army:

British combat forces are no longer needed to maintain security in southern Iraq and should leave the country, Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi Prime Minister, has told The Times.

In an exclusive interview in Baghdad, Mr al-Maliki also criticised a secret deal made last year by Britain with the al-Mahdi Army, Iraq’s largest Shia militia. He said that Basra had been left at the mercy of militiamen who “cut the throats of women and children” after the British withdrawal from the city.

The Iraqi leader emphasised, however, that the “page had been turned” and he looked forward to a friendly, productive relationship with London. “The Iraqi arena is open for British companies and British friendship, for economic exchange and positive cooperation in science and education.”

Of Britain’s presence in southern Iraq, Mr al-Maliki said: “We thank them for the role they have played, but I think that their stay is not necessary for maintaining security and control. There might be a need for their experience in training and some technological issues, but as a fighting force, I don’t think that is necessary.”

The British also scheduled talks on a status-of-forces agreement, but they haven’t followed through on the discussions.  Maliki expressed some surprise at this, suggesting that the financial crisis may have distracted the Brits.  However, unless Maliki goes back to the UN for an extension of the current mandate — which would be politically disastrous in Iraq — the British will have to leave without a new SoFA.  (So will the American forces, which is why the Bush administration wants a SoFA this year.)

Clearly, Maliki has not forgiven the British for their actions in Basra.  Instead of acting with more assertiveness, the British basically conceded Basra to the Shi’ite militias and let them use the southern region for a massive and deadly turf war.  Stephen Vincent warned about the danger of this policy in 2005, before the militias assassinated him for it.  Maliki makes clear that the Iraqi government did not get consulted on those decisions, which explains his breezy dismissal of the value of British troops there now.

To some extent, that’s unfair.  The British stuck with this mission long after it became a detrimental political issue in Europe and the UK.  They deserve credit for that, even if their command decisions in both Iraq and Afghanistan leave a lot to be desired — and we need to remember that some of ours turned out to be badly mistaken as well.  Fortunately, though, the Iraqi Army has grown strong enough to correct those mistakes, and Maliki is correct to note that these conditions make it possible for the British troops to leave — and they should.

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