Stephen Twigg MP sends us his answer to our questions about the assault on Fallujah but does not tell us how many civilian casualties he is willing to sacrifice for a very dubious outcome. He says that he would prefer there was no use of heavy artillery or aerial bombardment but that is what is causing many of the casualties. He restates the Bush/Blair doctrine that the people of Iraq want a free and democratic society whilst ignoring that polls have indicated they do not want this the American way. So still many questions unanswered – but here is what he says.
I do support the military action currently being taken in Falluja by coalition forces. I, like everyone else, hope that there will be as few civilian casualties in Falluja as possible. Nonetheless, I believe that it is vital that the armed resistance in Iraq is tackled. There can be little hope of democracy in Iraq while armed groups are able to defy the rule of law and wreak havoc across the country. As the Prime Minister has said, there is a straightforward way of ending the violence and that is for the insurgents to lay down their weapons.
I will support military action where it is necessary to reduce the ability of resistance forces to hamper reconstruction, delay the transition to democracy and defy the rule of law. I would, of course, prefer that such military action did not involve the use of heavy artillery or aerial bombardment with the obvious potential for civilian casualties. I sincerely hope that these kinds of military tactics will not be necessary in other towns and cities in Iraq and that it will be possible to move towards democratic elections so that the Iraqi people can determine their own future.
The British forces are an important part of the coalition in Iraq. I believe it is right that, as part of the coalition, they support other coalition forces when it is necessary.
I am not happy with the current situation in Iraq. The ongoing violence is damaging the prospects of successful elections and the death toll on all sides continues to rise. However, I do not believe that it would be right for coalition forces to be passive in the face of the armed resistance or to withdraw completely. That would represent a very real failure to support the ordinary people of Iraq who want a free and democratic society. It would leave them at the mercy of armed groups who through their indiscriminate kidnappings, executions and bombings have demonstrated their complete lack of respect for human life,
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