BRITAIN: The deployment of Black Watch soldiers to central Iraq would be "a limited operation for a limited period", the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, insisted yesterday. Mr Blair was commenting after former prime minister John Major warned that British troops could be in Iraq for "many, many years".
The Prime Minister was asked how long the troops would be deployed in central Iraq. Last week he insisted Black Watch troops would be home by Christmas, although defence chief Gen Sir Michael Walker later said they might need to be be replaced with other troops from the multi-national force.
Yesterday, Mr Major expressed doubts that the elections in Iraq would go ahead as planned. He also said no plans had been drawn up for what would happen afterwards. "Assuming the elections can be held in January, and that's a big assumption . . . even then there's a huge amount that still has to be done.
"If we are to do the job properly and not scuttle - and I think we must do it properly and not scuttle - British troops will be there for many, many years yet."
Mr Major was one of a string of Tory elder statesmen who queued up to denounce Mr Blair's handling of the conflict and its aftermath, with his former deputy Lord Heseltine accusing the Prime Minister of lying to take the country into war.
Addressing 800 soldiers of the Black Watch yesterday, Lieut Col James Cowan told his battalion it would be "a force for good". "Frankly, this regiment beat Napoleon, beat the Kaiser and beat Hitler," he said.
"For the Jocks of the Black Watch this is just the latest chapter in our history and another job to be done." - (PA)