MoD Information

War Without Great Britain?

Wed, March 12, 2003

Source: Ananova News

The United States could go to war without Britain, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has confirmed

The United States could go to war without Britain, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has confirmed. The prospect of UK troops being reduced to the status of spectators was raised amid continuing international deadlock over Iraq.

Asked specifically whether the US would go to war without its "closest ally", he added: "That is an issue that the president will be addressing in the days ahead, one would assume."

Downing Street responded by stressing Britain's involvement in military planning.

"This has not changed anything. We are still working to get a second resolution," a spokeswoman insisted.

Mr Rumsfeld also added that the US would put Iraqi soldiers to work rebuilding the country and pay to keep its civilian government bureaucracy running after a war.

"It is likely that you are going to have a number of Iraqi people who are doing things - Iraqi military that are not combatants and not problems for the coalition, or government officials running ministries providing water and food and things for people," he said.

Rumsfeld said the money to administer Iraq after a war could come not only from the US but also from seized Iraqi assets, the oil-for-food sanctions programme and donations from other countries.

President George Bush set up a postwar planning team in January, with retired Army Lieutenant General Jay Garner heading the team from offices in the Pentagon. Garner would act as a civil administrator in Iraq if President Saddam Hussein's government were overthrown Garner would report to General Tommy Franks, commander of US forces in the Persian Gulf area.