News from across the Pond...the Guardian
Allies 'duped into waging war'
Press Association Saturday September 11, 2004 5:33 PM
One of al Qaida's aims in its September 11 attacks on the US three years ago was to draw the west into military conflict on Arab soil, according to Prime Minister Tony Blair's former envoy to Iraq.
Sir Jeremy Greenstock's comments appeared to give some credence to the argument of critics of the Iraq War that the US and UK played into al Qaida's hands by launching last year's invasion.
Opponents of the war warned that it would act as a recruiting sergeant for terror chief Osama bin Laden, by appearing to confirm his claims that the West was engaged in a war on Islam, as well as providing a new field of battle for his militants.
Sir Jeremy said the allies had "suffered the consequences" in Iraq of al Qaida's determination to exploit the opportunities presented by a war on Arab soil.
He said that the West could not defeat bin Laden's terror network by military means alone, but must adopt policies to reduce resentment in the Muslim world.
If the allies failed to help Iraq put an end to its current instability, they would be left "worse off than when we started", he warned.
Sir Jeremy, who was at the centre of events in the run-up to last year's war as UK ambassador to the United Nations, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it was one of the objectives of Osama bin Laden and the al Qaida leadership originally to draw America into conflict on Arab soil as close to Saudi Arabia as possible."
Asked if this meant the allies had in fact played into al Qaida's hands, he responded: "To some extent, we are suffering the consequences of that."
Iraq must not be allowed to become a failed state, with chaotic conditions providing a breeding ground for terrorism, he warned.
"Iraq is not yet a failed state," said Sir Jeremy. "We are in a transition period, which has got considerable difficulties. But if Iraq ends up as a failed state and we leave it in that state, then we are worse off than when we started."
© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2004, All Rights Reserved.
Press Association Saturday September 11, 2004 5:33 PM
One of al Qaida's aims in its September 11 attacks on the US three years ago was to draw the west into military conflict on Arab soil, according to Prime Minister Tony Blair's former envoy to Iraq.
Sir Jeremy Greenstock's comments appeared to give some credence to the argument of critics of the Iraq War that the US and UK played into al Qaida's hands by launching last year's invasion.
Opponents of the war warned that it would act as a recruiting sergeant for terror chief Osama bin Laden, by appearing to confirm his claims that the West was engaged in a war on Islam, as well as providing a new field of battle for his militants.
Sir Jeremy said the allies had "suffered the consequences" in Iraq of al Qaida's determination to exploit the opportunities presented by a war on Arab soil.
He said that the West could not defeat bin Laden's terror network by military means alone, but must adopt policies to reduce resentment in the Muslim world.
If the allies failed to help Iraq put an end to its current instability, they would be left "worse off than when we started", he warned.
Sir Jeremy, who was at the centre of events in the run-up to last year's war as UK ambassador to the United Nations, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it was one of the objectives of Osama bin Laden and the al Qaida leadership originally to draw America into conflict on Arab soil as close to Saudi Arabia as possible."
Asked if this meant the allies had in fact played into al Qaida's hands, he responded: "To some extent, we are suffering the consequences of that."
Iraq must not be allowed to become a failed state, with chaotic conditions providing a breeding ground for terrorism, he warned.
"Iraq is not yet a failed state," said Sir Jeremy. "We are in a transition period, which has got considerable difficulties. But if Iraq ends up as a failed state and we leave it in that state, then we are worse off than when we started."
© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2004, All Rights Reserved.
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