Tony Blair’s Army nearly ‘seized up’
THE Army came close to “seizing up” in 2006 because Tony Blair overstretched forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, its former head said yesterday.
General Sir Richard Dannatt described Mr Blair’s decision to fight wars in Afghanistan at the same time as Iraq as a “perfect storm” for the Army. He told the Iraq Inquiry that by taking on simultaneous commitments it was “running hot”.
He said: “You can run hot when you are in balance and there is enough oil sloshing around the engine to keep it going. When the oil is thin, or insufficient, the engine runs the risk of seizing up. I think we were getting quite close to a seizing-up moment in 2006.”
Gen Dannatt said UK troops looked “flat-footed” compared to the Americans and that the Army “lacked desire” to go to war in Iraq.
He said Britain’s obligation to its forces had been getting “progressively out of balance” in pay, conditions, accommodation and equipment.
