In article <20040517040847.09206.00001503@mb-m13.aol.com>,

Bush and Blair speed up their exit strategy

CATHERINE MacLEOD May 17 2004

2004 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited.

TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more troops
there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political and
military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job

denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of authority

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."

Sure sounds like cutting and running to me. If we leave now, we can

see Iraq become Terrorist Haven.

Woods

woodswun@tepidmail.com

Sure sounds like cutting and running to >me. If we leave now, we can expect
to see Iraq become Terrorist Haven.
Woods

"Ronnie"

That country will go down the drain with >terrorist attacks etc. once we

That country will go down the drain with terrorist attacks etc. once we
leave.


"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040517040847.09206.00001503@mb-m13.aol.com...

Bush and Blair speed up their exit strategy

CATHERINE MacLEOD May 17 2004

2004 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited.

TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

ensure

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

government

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

spokesman

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

for a

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

prime

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more troops
there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

strategy in

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political and
military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

by

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job done,
denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

critics on

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

weeks and

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

need to

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

strategy

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of authority

to an

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the

strategy

in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about

the

feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of

his

visit, three bombs exploded outside branches of the British bank, HSBC, in
Ankara and Istanbul.
The bombs caused minor damage and no casualties but were a sharp reminder

of

four devastating blasts which targeted British and Jewish targets in

Istanbul

in November, including the main local offices of HSBC in the city. Sixty

one

people, including the British consul, Roger Short, died in those attacks,
blamed on a Turkish Islamist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda
network.
Yesterday, Mr Cook demanded the government find a quick exit strategy for
British troops once the elections are held next January since they were

now so

unpopular, but Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, gave his remarks short
shrift. Expressing disappointment in his former cabinet colleague, Mr Hoon
said: "I worked with him when he was foreign secretary. He knows these
decisions have to be taken in light of events on the ground . . . events

for

the moment certainly require the presence of British troops on the

ground."

According to a report in a Sunday newspaper, allies of Gordon Brown

believe Mr

Cook would return to the cabinet if Mr Blair stood down to make way for

the

chancellor. But there are those who believe Mr Brown would never consider
reinstating Mr Cook.
Whitehall sources suggested yesterday that the prime minister had taken
advantage of a nervous US administration to persuade them to embrace the

UN and

speed up the handover of political and military control in Iraq.
Downing Street disclosed the new plan was proceeding on a twin approach.
On the security side, the coalition was speeding up creation of the Iraqi

army,

civil defence and intelligence services, and had focused on creating and
training Iraqi authorities. Major General David Petraeus has been put in

charge

of the speeded-up process and British sources said he is keen to learn

lessons

from the south of Iraq where the British troops were in charge of

security.

On the political side, the coalition has accepted there "must be a real,
visible difference when power is transferred on June 30 and that there is

a

sovereign Iraqi government which is supported by a new UN resolution that

will

set out arrangements for a multi-national force".
The net was closing yesterday around the soldiers behind the faked Daily

Mirror

Iraqi prisoner abuse photographs. Military investigators hope that the
newspaper will reveal their identities this week.
TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

ensure

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

government

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

spokesman

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

for a

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

prime

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more troops
there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

strategy in

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political and
military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

by

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job done,
denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

critics on

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

weeks and

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

need to

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

strategy

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of authority

to an

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the

strategy

in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about

the

feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of

his

visit, three bombs exploded outside branches of the British bank, HSBC, in
Ankara and Istanbul.
The bombs caused minor damage and no casualties but were a sharp reminder

of

four devastating blasts which targeted British and Jewish targets in

Istanbul

in November, including the main local offices of HSBC in the city. Sixty

one

people, including the British consul, Roger Short, died in those attacks,
blamed on a Turkish Islamist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda
network.
Yesterday, Mr Cook demanded the government find a quick exit strategy for
British troops once the elections are held next January since they were

now so

unpopular, but Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, gave his remarks short
shrift. Expressing disappointment in his former cabinet colleague, Mr Hoon
said: "I worked with him when he was foreign secretary. He knows these
decisions have to be taken in light of events on the ground . . . events

for

the moment certainly require the presence of British troops on the

ground."

According to a report in a Sunday newspaper, allies of Gordon Brown

believe Mr

Cook would return to the cabinet if Mr Blair stood down to make way for

the

chancellor. But there are those who believe Mr Brown would never consider
reinstating Mr Cook.
Whitehall sources suggested yesterday that the prime minister had taken
advantage of a nervous US administration to persuade them to embrace the

UN and

speed up the handover of political and military control in Iraq.
Downing Street disclosed the new plan was proceeding on a twin approach.
On the security side, the coalition was speeding up creation of the Iraqi

army,

civil defence and intelligence services, and had focused on creating and
training Iraqi authorities. Major General David Petraeus has been put in

charge

of the speeded-up process and British sources said he is keen to learn

lessons

from the south of Iraq where the British troops were in charge of

security.

On the political side, the coalition has accepted there "must be a real,
visible difference when power is transferred on June 30 and that there is

a

sovereign Iraqi government which is supported by a new UN resolution that

will

set out arrangements for a multi-national force".
The net was closing yesterday around the soldiers behind the faked Daily

Mirror

Iraqi prisoner abuse photographs. Military investigators hope that the
newspaper will reveal their identities this week.
TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

ensure

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

government

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

spokesman

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

for a

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

prime

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more troops
there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

strategy in

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political and
military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

by

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job done,
denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

critics on

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

weeks and

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

need to

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

strategy

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of authority

to an

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the

strategy

in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about

the

feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of

his

visit, three bombs exploded outside branches

That country will go down the drain with terrorist attacks etc. once we
leave.


"TonyZ2001" <tonyz2001@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040517040847.09206.00001503@mb-m13.aol.com...

Bush and Blair speed up their exit strategy

CATHERINE MacLEOD May 17 2004

2004 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited.

TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

ensure

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

government

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

spokesman

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

for a

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

prime

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more

there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

strategy in

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political

military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

by

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job

denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

critics on

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

weeks and

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

need to

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

strategy

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of

to an

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the

strategy

in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about

the

feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of

his

visit, three bombs exploded outside branches of the British bank, HSBC,

Ankara and Istanbul.
The bombs caused minor damage and no casualties but were a sharp

of

four devastating blasts which targeted British and Jewish targets in

Istanbul

in November, including the main local offices of HSBC in the city. Sixty

one

people, including the British consul, Roger Short, died in those

blamed on a Turkish Islamist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda
network.
Yesterday, Mr Cook demanded the government find a quick exit strategy

British troops once the elections are held next January since they were

now so

unpopular, but Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, gave his remarks short
shrift. Expressing disappointment in his former cabinet colleague, Mr

said: "I worked with him when he was foreign secretary. He knows these
decisions have to be taken in light of events on the ground . . . events

for

the moment certainly require the presence of British troops on the

ground."

According to a report in a Sunday newspaper, allies of Gordon Brown

believe Mr

Cook would return to the cabinet if Mr Blair stood down to make way for

the

chancellor. But there are those who believe Mr Brown would never

reinstating Mr Cook.
Whitehall sources suggested yesterday that the prime minister had taken
advantage of a nervous US administration to persuade them to embrace the

UN and

speed up the handover of political and military control in Iraq.
Downing Street disclosed the new plan was proceeding on a twin approach.
On the security side, the coalition was speeding up creation of the

army,

civil defence and intelligence services, and had focused on creating and
training Iraqi authorities. Major General David Petraeus has been put in

charge

of the speeded-up process and British sources said he is keen to learn

lessons

from the south of Iraq where the British troops were in charge of

security.

On the political side, the coalition has accepted there "must be a real,
visible difference when power is transferred on June 30 and that there

a

sovereign Iraqi government which is supported by a new UN resolution

will

set out arrangements for a multi-national force".
The net was closing yesterday around the soldiers behind the faked Daily

Mirror

Iraqi prisoner abuse photographs. Military investigators hope that the
newspaper will reveal their identities this week.
TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

ensure

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

government

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

spokesman

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

for a

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

prime

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more

there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

strategy in

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political

military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

by

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job

denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

critics on

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

weeks and

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

need to

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

strategy

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of

to an

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the

strategy

in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about

the

feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of

his

visit, three bombs exploded outside branches of the British bank, HSBC,

Ankara and Istanbul.
The bombs caused minor damage and no casualties but were a sharp

of

four devastating blasts which targeted British and Jewish targets in

Istanbul

in November, including the main local offices of HSBC in the city. Sixty

one

people, including the British consul, Roger Short, died in those

blamed on a Turkish Islamist group linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda
network.
Yesterday, Mr Cook demanded the government find a quick exit strategy

British troops once the elections are held next January since they were

now so

unpopular, but Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary, gave his remarks short
shrift. Expressing disappointment in his former cabinet colleague, Mr

said: "I worked with him when he was foreign secretary. He knows these
decisions have to be taken in light of events on the ground . . . events

for

the moment certainly require the presence of British troops on the

ground."

According to a report in a Sunday newspaper, allies of Gordon Brown

believe Mr

Cook would return to the cabinet if Mr Blair stood down to make way for

the

chancellor. But there are those who believe Mr Brown would never

reinstating Mr Cook.
Whitehall sources suggested yesterday that the prime minister had taken
advantage of a nervous US administration to persuade them to embrace the

UN and

speed up the handover of political and military control in Iraq.
Downing Street disclosed the new plan was proceeding on a twin approach.
On the security side, the coalition was speeding up creation of the

army,

civil defence and intelligence services, and had focused on creating and
training Iraqi authorities. Major General David Petraeus has been put in

charge

of the speeded-up process and British sources said he is keen to learn

lessons

from the south of Iraq where the British troops were in charge of

security.

On the political side, the coalition has accepted there "must be a real,
visible difference when power is transferred on June 30 and that there

a

sovereign Iraqi government which is supported by a new UN resolution

will

set out arrangements for a multi-national force".
The net was closing yesterday around the soldiers behind the faked Daily

Mirror

Iraqi prisoner abuse photographs. Military investigators hope that the
newspaper will reveal their identities this week.
TONY Blair and George W Bush have speeded up their work on a new plan to

ensure

the new Iraqi administration to be set up on June 30 is a sovereign

government

supported by a new UN resolution, according to the prime minister's

spokesman

last night.
As Robin Cook, Mr Blair's former cabinet colleague, stepped up pressure

for a

change in strategy in Iraq and anti-war campaigners demanded that the

prime

minister seek a fresh political mandate if he decides to send more

there, Downing Street admitted it had announced details of the new

strategy in

an attempt to convince the public that it had a grip of the political

military strategies.
The prime minister's spokesman, insisting that Mr Blair was not diverted

by

speculation over his future but was concentrating on getting the job

denied the new strategy was a panic measure to silence the anti-war

critics on

both sides of the Atlantic.
He said: "They have been working on a joint strategy for the last few

weeks and

it has speeded up in the last few days. It is a recognition that people

need to

see we have a grip, that we are not there for ever amen, politically or
militarily.
"Neither is this a case of cutting and running, but showing we have a

strategy

of achieving what we said we wanted to achieve: the transfer of

to an

Iraqi government and responsibility to an Iraqi security system."
Mr Blair is visiting Turkey today, when he is expected to explain the

strategy

in neighbouring Iraq. However, he would have been in little doubt about

the

feelings of some factions in the country when last night, on the eve of

his

visit, three bombs exploded outside branches