David Miliband

Out of Iraq, Back Into Iraq

30 April marked the formal handover of responsibilities by British troops in Southern Iraq. There was rightly media focus on the 179 British soldiers who lost their lives, and the Iraqi civilians who were killed in fighting in Basra and surrounding areas. For them and their families, Thursday will have been especially hard. Nothing can temper the reality of their loss and we mourn with them.

I have always said the historians will have to come to judgements about the last six years in Iraq. We know some things that clearly went wrong. But the longer term picture is not yet clear. The fact that Iraq stands on the cusp of vital decisions was brought out in Prime Minister Maliki's visit to the UK. His address to a 600 strong "Invest Iraq" conference alongside Douglas Alexander and Peter Mandelson showed the depth of commercial interest and potential. It also demonstrated that Britain will be true to its word of ramping up civilian engagement as we draw down militarily.

Iraq is currently a word associated in the UK with war - and the political divisions at home. When I met the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister they talked about what was at stake: a pluralist and free society in the Middle East. We need to be there with them

Posted at 14:11 05 May 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[2]