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02-02-2006 Scotsman Smiling, six weeks ago with Tony Blair - the 100th British soldier to be killed in Iraq war By Gethin Chamberlain Chief News Correspondent TONY Blair met Corporal Gordon Pritchard - the 100th British soldier to die in Iraq - just weeks before the serviceman's death on Tuesday, it emerged yesterday. A photograph taken days before Christmas showed Mr Blair laughing with Cpl Pritchard in front of a tank during a visit by the Prime Minister to the Shaibah logistics base south of Basra. And as Cpl Pritchard's death prompted renewed calls for the government to bring home troops, the future of Britain's presence in Iraq was thrown into confusion when Mr Blair and Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday set out conflicting visions of how long UK forces would be needed to maintain order. As preparations were made to repatriate the bodies of Cpl Pritchard and fellow Scot Lance Corporal Allan Douglas, who was shot dead on Monday, the Prime Minister insisted that "legally and politically" it was right that British troops remained in Iraq for as long as was needed to "see the job through". Mr Straw, however, hinted at a partial withdrawal, suggesting that he expected "good news" from talks with Iraqi officials on handing over control of some regions to home-grown forces. Downing Street declined to reveal details of the conversation, or of Mr Blair's personal feelings on the death of the young man he had met, but said the Prime Minister had spoken to soldiers about the increasing capacity of the Iraqi troops with whom they worked and their enthusiasm for working with those soldiers. A spokesman said any contact between the Prime Minister and the Pritchard family would be a "private" matter. Later in the Commons, Mr Blair sent his condolences to the families of the two Scottish soldiers and paid tribute to the "remarkable job our armed forces are doing with courage, dedication and sheer professionalism in the service of our country and to help Iraq in becoming the democracy its people so clearly want". Cpl Pritchard's family released a statement yesterday which said the soldier "enjoyed his life to the full". It said he had earned many qualifications during his time in the army and had "always excelled" on courses. During his time at the Army Training Regiment he was officially recognised as the best instructor. "Gordon took pride in excelling in all that he did. Gordon loved his family, loved his regiment and enjoyed his life to the full," the statement said. It added that Cpl Pritchard had served worldwide, including operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. He also took part in exercises in Germany, Poland and Canada. Neighbours of his parents in Edinburgh said the couple, Bill and Jenny Pritchard, had been devastated by his death. Next-door neighbour Annie Dalgity, 90, said: "Jean came last night and she was crying. She said, 'I'm sorry but I've lost my son. He was killed'. She was broken-hearted." Cpl Pritchard, 31, was killed on Tuesday when a roadside bomb exploded next to the Land Rover in which he was travelling, injuring three other soldiers. Cpl Pritchard joined the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, his father's old regiment, in 1992 at the age of 17. He and his wife, Julie-Anne, had three children - Stacey, Harrison and Summer. His commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Edwards, described Cpl Pritchard as having had "very great potential". He added: "The regiment has lost a fine soldier and a good friend. We count ourselves as fortunate to have served with such a man." The death of Cpl Pritchard has reignited the debate over how long British forces will remain in Iraq. Anti-war protesters staged a series of vigils around the country to read out the names of the dead and light candles. In Aberdeen the parents and sister of L-Cpl Douglas took part in one such vigil. Walter and Diane Douglas and his sister Donna lit a candle and voiced their opposition to the conflict, calling for Mr Blair to bring troops home. Mrs Douglas, 54, said: "He shouldn't wait for another death. All the soldiers' parents are worried about their sons. It's not their war." In an apparent attempt to head off further public demands for the withdrawal of British forces, Mr Straw suggested some troops could return home before the end of the year. He said: "We are in active discussions about how we draw down our troops on a province-by-province basis as we and the Iraqi government are convinced it is safe for them and for us to do so. I think we will see, over the next 12 months, some good news in that respect." John Reid, the Defence Secretary, also voiced hopes that British troops could begin a pullout within the next 12 months. The same sentiment, however, has been voiced regularly by politicians and senior military officers over the past couple of years with no visible sign of an improvement in the security situation in Iraq. Military sources suggest that Britain wants to begin winding down its presence in Iraq later this year. But continuing insecurity and friction with the new Iraqi police force may yet hinder those aspirations once again. Defence sources suggest the government will attempt to finesse the problem by announcing that Iraqi forces in some quieter provinces are in a position to take over sole responsibility for security. But there are fears if coalition forces withdraw completely from some areas, militias will seize control of key positions.
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................................................................................................................. Copyright ©2004 Gethin Chamberlain. All rights reserved. |
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