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Britain: Iraq War Going Well Despite Casualties
Michael Drudge
London
24 Mar 2003, 11:11 UTC
British officials say the Iraq war is going well despite
a string of incidents that have left 18 British servicemen
killed or missing. Prime Minister Tony Blair can expect questions
about the casualties when he appears in parliament Monday.
British defense officials are playing down the impact
of the accidents and battlefield incidents that have beset the
British and American forces in the first four days of the war.
Sixteen British servicemen had died through Sunday in two helicopter
crashes and the accidental shoot-down of a British jet by an
American missile. Two British soldiers went missing in action
Sunday.
Junior Defense Minister Louis Moonie told British radio Monday
the overall battle plan is proceeding as it was designed.
"Every death of one of our people is a tragedy for their
families and a tragedy and great sorrow for all of us. But it
is important to put them into the context against the overall
picture. They are not setbacks," he said. "They
are the sad inevitability of what we are doing. But the
fact is that the main line [plan] remains on course and that's
what we have to proceed with."
Mr. Moonie also said he sees no reason to increase the number
of British and American forces spearheading the invasion.
"I think if that were necessary then clearly it would have
to be done," he said. "There is no thought at present
that it is necessary. The role of our forces always was to smash
forward towards Baghdad as quickly as possible. We want to remove
this regime with the minimum disruption to the country
and people of Iraq."
Prime Minister Blair was preparing for tough questions in parliament
later Monday about the British casualties and war strategy.
It will be his first appearance there since the fighting started.
Parliament voted last week by a three-to-one margin to approve
Mr. Blair's war plan. But he still faces significant opposition
within his own Labor Party over the war.
News article published courtesy of
http://www.voanews.com
