Official: Iran told HMG it was killing British troops in Iraq
James Forsyth 6:59pmTucked away in today’s papers is a very important story, a statement on the record by Sir John Sawers, formerly political director at the Foreign Office now Britain’s ambassador to the UN, about a deal the Iranians offered:
"The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear programme: 'We stop killing you in Iraq, stop undermining the political process there, you allow us to carry on with our nuclear programme without let or hindrance'."
It has long been known that the Iranians are responsible for the deaths of British forces in Iraq. But Sir John Sawers is the most senior official to say it and make explicit that the Iranians told the British government that they were doing this.
When there is an Iraq inquiry it must examine how forcefully Britain responded to this Iranian aggression, what efforts were made to disrupt the supply bases and training camps inside Iran that were being used. It also strikes me as quite wrong that British companies are doing business with a country that we know killed British troops.
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Bardirect
February 21st, 2009 8:14pm Report this commentWhat worries me is that the lives of our troops continued to be sacrificed whilst we served US interests. Iran wanted to talk, the US said no and Blair made that choice. Our troops are entitled to know who their masters are. They were let down on so many fronts.
Augustus
February 21st, 2009 8:23pm Report this comment"we do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. for patriotism is another name for paganism. I say, let this Iran burn. I say, let this land go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges triumphant in the rest of the world."
- Ayatollah Khomeini
So now you know!
Bruce, UK
February 21st, 2009 8:25pm Report this commentWhat price the traitors, for that is what they are, within HMG will be made to pay?
James J
February 21st, 2009 8:27pm Report this comment“When there is an Iraq Inquiry...” Practicing writing comedy scripts are you? Even if we ever got anything remotely like such an Inquiry its terms of reference would be so restricted that we would get no information from it we don’t already have.
anoneumouse
February 21st, 2009 8:27pm Report this commentRead more @ http://defenceoftherealm.blogspot.com/
and weep
Mitch
February 21st, 2009 9:09pm Report this commentgordon would do a deal with the devil if he could gain another minute in office.
for a man who writes about courage he has precious little himself.
Bob
February 21st, 2009 9:56pm Report this commentIt also casts the Cornwall Incident in a different light. Given that it was known than there was Iranian involvement in attacks in Iraq, why weren't there stronger measures in force to allow the Royal Navy to defend itself in the northern Gulf, abd avoid giving Iran hostages that they could use?
Alf Tupper
February 21st, 2009 10:15pm Report this comment"Every intelligent person in the world knew that disaster was impending and knew no way to avoid it"
H G Wells on the run up to WW1
martin
February 22nd, 2009 12:45am Report this commentThat England is on the downslide has been obvious for quite a while now.
Question is, how much further down can one go before one reaches bottom.
wonderfulforhisage
February 22nd, 2009 1:23am Report this commentAnd the elephant in the room is????
Glenis
February 22nd, 2009 6:23am Report this commentHow sickening! Socialist Govts are all the same. They do not care about their fellow countrymen. They are traitors and the public needs to wake up to this fact. While they are in control they will investigate themselves and nothing will come of it. More valiant English soldiers will die and no one will know the truth as to why. Socialism is Communism in disguiseand as uch a menace to world peace as Islam
Ray
February 22nd, 2009 9:20am Report this commentThis is classic New Labour foreign and defence policy: will the ends but not the means.
Cogita ante salis
February 22nd, 2009 9:22am Report this commentCome back, Saddam Hussein, all is forgiven.
Fritz
February 22nd, 2009 10:21am Report this commentTo blame the enemy for being the enemy is lame. Old soldiers everywhere. What do you expect? You are in war!
Cogito Ergosum
February 22nd, 2009 4:58pm Report this commentReply to Alf Tupper 10:15pm:
Not only "H G Wells on the run up to WW1"; but also the Conservative Party before 1997.
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