Wikileaks: US anger at Gordon Brown's Iraq withdrawal
A DAMNING verdict on Gordon Brown's handling of the war in Iraq is revealed in secret US diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and seen by Scotland on Sunday.
The cables accuse the former Prime Minister of pulling British troops out of Iraq to improve his chances of winning a general election, despite warnings from the UK's allies that withdrawal would represent a victory for terrorists.
The cables detail the failure of British forces to bring peace and stability to Basra, in southern Iraq, the area put under UK guardianship after the 2003 invasion.
They chronicle the Brown government's determination to pull troops out, despite repeated appeals from Britain's allies to stay and continue the fight against insurgents.
The cables reveal:
• The British government effectively gave up on its mission in Iraq, with defence secretary Des Browne admitting privately to a US general that chaos in Basra was "depressing and incomprehensible", and "could not be resolved… by the UK's forces".
• US diplomats believed Gordon Brown's motive for pulling out was a desire to show the British public he was "the leader who undid (Tony] Blair's mistake" in taking the country to war.
• Britain's withdrawal from Basra was opposed by the United States, the United Nations and the Iraqi government, who all feared it could destabilise Iraq, give a boost to insurgents and lead to a deepening conflict.
• US senator John McCain sounded out David Cameron, then leader of the opposition, on opposing British withdrawal. But the Tory leader declined to get involved in criticising Brown's military strategy.
Last night, Angus Robertson, the SNP's defence and foreign affairs spokesman, said the leaked cables raised serious questions about Gordon Brown's judgment.
"The invasion of Iraq was illegal and immoral but putting civilians and service personnel in mortal danger for electoral advantage is truly shameful," he said.
More: the Iraq cables
• Wikileaks: US anger at Gordon Brown's Iraq withdrawal
• Wikileaks: Gordon Brown 'wanted to undo Tony Blair's Iraq mistake'
• Basra: timeline of UK military involvement in Iraq
• Leader: Historical insight
The US government condemned Scotland on Sunday's decision to publish the cables, saying: "Any unauthorised disclosure of classified material is regrettable as it has the potential to harm individuals as well as efforts to advance foreign policy goals shared by nations around the world."
Secret US diplomatic cables were made available to Scotland on Sunday and The Scotsman by the international whistle-blowing organisation WikiLeaks, which is headed by Julian Assange.
The cables detail the failure of British forces to bring peace and stability to Basra, in southern Iraq, the area put under UK guardianship after the 2003 invasion.
They chronicle the Brown government's determination to pull troops out, despite repeated appeals from Britain's allies to stay and continue the fight against insurgents.
The cables reveal:
• The British government effectively gave up on its mission in Iraq, with defence secretary Des Browne admitting privately to a US general that chaos in Basra was "depressing and incomprehensible", and "could not be resolved… by the UK's forces".
• US diplomats believed Gordon Brown's motive for pulling out was a desire to show the British public he was "the leader who undid (Tony] Blair's mistake" in taking the country to war.
• Britain's withdrawal from Basra was opposed by the United States, the United Nations and the Iraqi government, who all feared it could destabilise Iraq, give a boost to insurgents and lead to a deepening conflict.
• US senator John McCain sounded out David Cameron, then leader of the opposition, on opposing British withdrawal. But the Tory leader declined to get involved in criticising Brown's military strategy.
Last night, Angus Robertson, the SNP's defence and foreign affairs spokesman, said the leaked cables raised serious questions about Gordon Brown's judgment.
"The invasion of Iraq was illegal and immoral but putting civilians and service personnel in mortal danger for electoral advantage is truly shameful," he said.
More: the Iraq cables
• Wikileaks: US anger at Gordon Brown's Iraq withdrawal
• Wikileaks: Gordon Brown 'wanted to undo Tony Blair's Iraq mistake'
• Basra: timeline of UK military involvement in Iraq
• Leader: Historical insight
The US government condemned Scotland on Sunday's decision to publish the cables, saying: "Any unauthorised disclosure of classified material is regrettable as it has the potential to harm individuals as well as efforts to advance foreign policy goals shared by nations around the world."
Secret US diplomatic cables were made available to Scotland on Sunday and The Scotsman by the international whistle-blowing organisation WikiLeaks, which is headed by Julian Assange.
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