British General roasts US over Iraq

British General roasts US over Iraq

2007/09/01

The Head of the British army during the invasion of Iraq has blasted
America for its handling of the aftermath, a newspaper reported
Saturday.

General Sir Mike Jackson laid into the then American Defence Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld in a stinging attack, said the Daily Telegraph, which
is to serialise his forthcoming autobiography, "Soldier".

Jackson branded American policy after the March 2003 invasion
"intellectually bankrupt" and slammed Rumsfeld's claim that American
forces "don't do nation-building" as "nonsensical."

Jackson said Rumsfeld was "one of the most responsible for the current
situation in Iraq."

The retired general's comments are likely to fuel tensions over Iraq
between Britain and America.

The Daily Telegraph said Jackson feels the America's approach to
combating global terrorism is "inadequate" and too focused on military
might rather than nation-building and diplomacy.

The General also attacked the decision to hand control of planning the
post-invasion administration of Iraq to the Pentagon.

All the planning carried out by the State Department had "gone to
waste," he argued.

He also said disbanding the Iraqi army and security forces after
toppling Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was "very short-sighted.

Many however view the disbanding as suspicious, calling it a move to
remove any sort of deternence against the ensuing tensions and
conflicts.

Britain has about 5,500 troops currently based at Basra airport and
Basra palace, although the small contingent at the latter is due to
retreat within weeks.

mk

http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=243418&n=36

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