UK and US must quit Iraq quickly, says former ambassador (Guardian)

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

UK and US must quit Iraq quickly, says former ambassador

Tania Branigan and Rosie Lavan
Wednesday June 6, 2007
The Guardian

The British and American military presence in Iraq is worsening security
across the region and should be withdrawn quickly, the UK's former
ambassador to Washington warned yesterday.

Sir Christopher Meyer acknowledged that leaving Iraq would be "painful",
but said the mission was not worth the death of one more serviceman.
"I personally believe that the presence of American and British and
coalition forces is making things worse, not only inside Iraq but the
wider region around Iraq. The arguments against staying for any greater
length of time themselves strengthen with every day that passes," Sir
Christopher said.

He added: "I think the Iraqis are in fact sorting themselves out - often
bloodily - independent of what we're doing."

The former diplomat, posted in Washington in the runup to the 2003
invasion, was giving evidence to the Iraq Commission in London. The
cross-party group - modelled on America's Iraq Study Group - was set
up by the Foreign Policy Centre thinktank and Channel 4 to examine
possible options for Britain's future role.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2096468,00.html

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Source: Associated Press

British ex-ambassador to U.S. calls for speedy withdrawal from Iraq

The Associated Press
Published: June 5, 2007

LONDON: A former British ambassador to the United States on Tuesday
called for a rapid withdrawal of his nation's forces from Iraq.

Sir Christopher Meyer, ambassador to Washington from 1997 to 2003,
said the situation was not worth the death of another British or
U.S. serviceman.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/05/europe/EU-GEN-Britain-Iraq.php

[Eagle_Eye]

1. Sir Christopher Meyer can see the futility of violence in Iraq

The window to use violence to bring about a solution in Iraq has passed. Bush squandered his opportunity to make peace in 2003, and is now engaged in a never ending war. All sides in Iraq hate the Americans, and our troops are targets of their rage.

The only way to end the killing is to withdraw our troops and seek a diplomatic solution.