Menu
27/04/2004
Diplomats attack PM's Middle East policies
Fifty-two former senior British diplomats have published an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair as a public critique of his "doomed" policy on the Middle East.
The co-signatories, many of whom are former British Ambassadors who have served in the Middle East, sent the letter to Mr Blair expressing their "deepening concern" the policies followed with regard to the Arab-Israel problem and Iraq "in close co-operation with the United States".
The event that prompted the letter was attributed to the radical change in policy towards the Arab-Israeli problem supported by Mr Bush after the meeting with Mr Sharon in Washington.
The former diplomats have pointed out that the Sharon policy, apparently endorsed by Mr Blair, was not the US, EU, Russian and UN "road map" that they said had "raised hopes that the major powers would at last make a determined and collective effort" to resolve the Israeli/Palestine conflict.
The open letter condemns the US-backed policy announced by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as "one-sided and illegal". The letter condemned the British Government for a wait and see policy that relied "in vain" on "American leadership".
Regarding the policy on Iraq the diplomats told the Prime Minister: "The conduct of the war in Iraq has made it clear that there was no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement."
In respect of the post-Iraq war conflict Mr Blair was told: "Heavy weapons unsuited to the task in hand, inflammatory language, the current confrontations in Najaf and Falluja, all these have built up rather than isolated the opposition. The Iraqis killed by coalition forces probably total 10-15,000 (it is a disgrace that the coalition forces themselves appear to have no estimate), and the number killed in the last month in Falluja alone is apparently several hundred including many civilian men, women and children."
The letter ended: "We share your view that the British government has an interest in working as closely as possible with the US on both these related issues, and in exerting real influence as a loyal ally. We believe that the need for such influence is now a matter of the highest urgency. If that is unacceptable or unwelcome there is no case for supporting policies which are doomed to failure."
The full text of the Diplomats' letter to Mr Blair.
The letter from the top diplomats, many with significant relevant experience in the Middle East region, is viewed as a severe embarrassment to Mr Blair.
Among the most senior former diplomats named as signatories - in all 52 co-signed the letter - are:
Sir Graham Boyce (former Ambassador to Egypt); Sir Terence Clark & Sir Harold (Hooky) Walker (former Ambassadors to Iraq); Francis Cornish (former Ambassador to Israel); Sir James Craig (former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia); Ivor Lucas (former Ambassador to Syria); Richard Muir (former Ambassador to Kuwait).
Downing Street sought to play down the significance of the letter saying only that the signatories are "entitled to express their views" and that peace and stability remained the goal in the region.
Today, a Foreign Office Minister described the attack on government policy as a "cry of frustration".
In an interview for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme Mike O'Brien claimed that there had been no change in Middle Eastern policy and that Sharon's decision to withdraw from Gaza represented a break in the "logjam".
(SP)
The co-signatories, many of whom are former British Ambassadors who have served in the Middle East, sent the letter to Mr Blair expressing their "deepening concern" the policies followed with regard to the Arab-Israel problem and Iraq "in close co-operation with the United States".
The event that prompted the letter was attributed to the radical change in policy towards the Arab-Israeli problem supported by Mr Bush after the meeting with Mr Sharon in Washington.
The former diplomats have pointed out that the Sharon policy, apparently endorsed by Mr Blair, was not the US, EU, Russian and UN "road map" that they said had "raised hopes that the major powers would at last make a determined and collective effort" to resolve the Israeli/Palestine conflict.
The open letter condemns the US-backed policy announced by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as "one-sided and illegal". The letter condemned the British Government for a wait and see policy that relied "in vain" on "American leadership".
Regarding the policy on Iraq the diplomats told the Prime Minister: "The conduct of the war in Iraq has made it clear that there was no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement."
In respect of the post-Iraq war conflict Mr Blair was told: "Heavy weapons unsuited to the task in hand, inflammatory language, the current confrontations in Najaf and Falluja, all these have built up rather than isolated the opposition. The Iraqis killed by coalition forces probably total 10-15,000 (it is a disgrace that the coalition forces themselves appear to have no estimate), and the number killed in the last month in Falluja alone is apparently several hundred including many civilian men, women and children."
The letter ended: "We share your view that the British government has an interest in working as closely as possible with the US on both these related issues, and in exerting real influence as a loyal ally. We believe that the need for such influence is now a matter of the highest urgency. If that is unacceptable or unwelcome there is no case for supporting policies which are doomed to failure."
The full text of the Diplomats' letter to Mr Blair.
The letter from the top diplomats, many with significant relevant experience in the Middle East region, is viewed as a severe embarrassment to Mr Blair.
Among the most senior former diplomats named as signatories - in all 52 co-signed the letter - are:
Sir Graham Boyce (former Ambassador to Egypt); Sir Terence Clark & Sir Harold (Hooky) Walker (former Ambassadors to Iraq); Francis Cornish (former Ambassador to Israel); Sir James Craig (former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia); Ivor Lucas (former Ambassador to Syria); Richard Muir (former Ambassador to Kuwait).
Downing Street sought to play down the significance of the letter saying only that the signatories are "entitled to express their views" and that peace and stability remained the goal in the region.
Today, a Foreign Office Minister described the attack on government policy as a "cry of frustration".
In an interview for the BBC Radio 4 Today programme Mike O'Brien claimed that there had been no change in Middle Eastern policy and that Sharon's decision to withdraw from Gaza represented a break in the "logjam".
(SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 April 2004
Government faces down criticisms of Middle East policies
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have faced down unprecedented criticisms of the government's Middle East policies from over 50 senior foreign diplomats.
Government faces down criticisms of Middle East policies
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have faced down unprecedented criticisms of the government's Middle East policies from over 50 senior foreign diplomats.
23 February 2007
Letter bomb suspect remanded in custody
A man has been remanded in custody, charged with the recent series of letter bomb attacks in the UK. Miles Cooper, 27, a primary school caretaker from Cherry Hinton near Cambridge, was arrested on Monday afternoon. He is charged with 12 offences under the Explosives Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act.
Letter bomb suspect remanded in custody
A man has been remanded in custody, charged with the recent series of letter bomb attacks in the UK. Miles Cooper, 27, a primary school caretaker from Cherry Hinton near Cambridge, was arrested on Monday afternoon. He is charged with 12 offences under the Explosives Substances Act and the Offences Against the Person Act.
27 April 2004
Text of former senior diplomats' letter to Mr Blair
[The complete text of the letter from 52 former senior British diplomats to Prime Minister Tony Blair:] Dear Prime Minister, We the undersigned former British ambassadors, high commissioners, governors and senior international officials, including some who have long experience of the Middle East and others whose experience is elsewhere, have watche
Text of former senior diplomats' letter to Mr Blair
[The complete text of the letter from 52 former senior British diplomats to Prime Minister Tony Blair:] Dear Prime Minister, We the undersigned former British ambassadors, high commissioners, governors and senior international officials, including some who have long experience of the Middle East and others whose experience is elsewhere, have watche
03 November 2004
Blair urged to lobby new US president on green policies
Prime Minister Tony Blair must persuade President Bush to develop more environmentally friendly policies, the Lib Dems have said. With Kerry's wthdrawal from the race this afternoon, Lib Dem environment spokesperson Norman Baker challenged Mr Blair to "fully engage" with the president on the issue of the environment.
Blair urged to lobby new US president on green policies
Prime Minister Tony Blair must persuade President Bush to develop more environmentally friendly policies, the Lib Dems have said. With Kerry's wthdrawal from the race this afternoon, Lib Dem environment spokesperson Norman Baker challenged Mr Blair to "fully engage" with the president on the issue of the environment.
27 September 2005
Blair looks forward to change
Tony Blair has called for more reforms to public services and urged Labour to tackle the challenges posed by globalisation in his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference. Echoing Chancellor Gordon Brown’s statements on Monday about the continuation of New Labour policies, Mr Blair said: “New Labour was never just a clever way to win.
Blair looks forward to change
Tony Blair has called for more reforms to public services and urged Labour to tackle the challenges posed by globalisation in his keynote speech at the Labour Party conference. Echoing Chancellor Gordon Brown’s statements on Monday about the continuation of New Labour policies, Mr Blair said: “New Labour was never just a clever way to win.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
