The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
today,
there are fewer than 500 British troops in Iraq, with more
returning home
each week.”
436.
On the UK’s
continued military presence in Iraq, Mr Brown told the House
of
Commons
that:
“At the
request of the Iraqi Government, a small number of British Navy
personnel –
no more
than 100 – will remain in Iraq for long-term training of the Iraqi
Army. Royal
Navy ships
will continue to protect the oil platforms on which Iraq’s exports
depend,
and we will
continue to offer training to the Iraqi army as part of a wider
NATO
mission. We
will also offer training opportunities at Sandhurst and elsewhere
in the
United
Kingdom for Iraqi officers of high potential. At the core of our
new relationship
however
will be the diplomatic, trading and cultural links that we are
building with the
Iraqi
people, supporting British and other foreign investors who want to
play a role in
the
reconstruction of southern Iraq.”
437.
Mr Brown
also announced the establishment of the Iraq Inquiry, with a
“primary
objective …
to identify lessons learned”.
438.
On 28 June,
Mr Prentice attended his final meeting of the Iraqi National
Security
Council.181
As
previously agreed with the US Embassy, at the end of the meeting
he
made a
statement announcing that the UK would not attend in future (and he
believed
that it was
also the US intention to withdraw). He told the Iraqi ministers
present that:
“We had
greatly appreciated the privilege of being part of the NSC over
the
previous
five years. Now on the eve of a further major demonstration of
Iraqi lead
responsibility
through the withdrawal of US troops from cities and towns, it was
the
right time
for us to bow out. The Iraqi Government was showing its ability to
deal
with the
tough security issues and should be allowed to continue their
discussions
in the
NSC without any external presence.”
439.
Although the
announcement came as a surprise to the Iraqis, it was
welcomed.
Prime
Minister Maliki thanked the UK and US for their support over many
years,
emphasising
that there should still be a means to discuss security issues
bilaterally or
as a group.
Other NSC members welcomed the announcement and afterwards
thanked
Mr Prentice
for the UK’s role.
440.
Following the
meeting, Mr Prentice, Ambassador Hill and Gen Odierno sent a
joint
letter to
Prime Minister Maliki, thanking him for the opportunity to take
part in the NSC,
confirming
US and UK withdrawal, underlining the progress the NSC had made
and
emphasising
their readiness to provide support or advice in the
future.
181
eGram
23890/09 Baghdad to FCO London, 30 June 2009, ‘Iraq: National
Security Council Meeting,
28 June:
Our Last Bow’.
456