At last, Conservative Friends of Iraq

By Gary Kent

Here’s a warm and possibly fraternal welcome to the launch this week of the Conservative Friends of Iraq.

Labour Friends of Iraq has been suggesting the establishment of such a group for a couple of years and we are very pleased to see that Conservative backbencher Tony Baldry has launched it.

I attended the launch and pledged our co-operation. We have the usual philosophical differences you would expect but share the same desire to build better relations between the UK and Iraq, as part of efforts to reach out to Iraqis seeking to build democracy and rebuild their shattered society and economy.

LFIQ has a particular focus on support for the trade union movement as well as good relations with several parties with which we conduct a dialogue. We aim to build relations with other parties and groups in due course.

LFIQ and CFIQ may have different ideologies but we are on the same street. It’s early days but I hope that our groups can jointly host meetings with visiting Iraqi politicians and fact-finding trips to Iraq.

Suddenly, there is an explosion of positive interest in the new Iraq.
The Iraqis are increasingly taking things into their own hands and security is improving rapidly with British troops scheduled to leave mid-year and most American troops over a longer period.

However, as we have ourselves seen in Northern Ireland, it doesn’t take many people to murder and maim and the nihilists in Iraq have carried out some ugly atrocities of late but overall security is vastly better.

There is still much bitterness in the often almost domestic debate on the left and on the right concerning the decision to invade Iraq in 2003. However, I suggest, from regular discussions with Iraqis and three visits so far to Iraq, that there is a different view amongst Iraqis about the events of the last 6 years.

The overthrow of Saddam was very welcome but they are angered by the way that security was allowed to slide towards near full-scale civil war, are relieved that the surge and other policies drew the country back from the abyss and now want to get on with their lives.

Given the destruction wreaked by Saddam and then by the insurgency, they are not able easily to do this alone. Iraqi ministers and parties want to see an increase in external investment – though there are differences between them on the terms of this – as well as increased trade.

This message is being heard loud and clear by many countries, including those which opposed the intervention. The recent visits of President Sarkosy and the German Foreign Minister symbolise those countries putting a line under their opposition to the war and embracing the new Iraq. The FT reports the PM saying that “Iraq bore Germany no ill will for opposing the removal by force of Saddam Hussein’s government.”

There is high regard for Britain in Iraq although Iraqis are well aware of the historic record of Britain in the last century in Iraq.
That record can best be remedied by building relations with Iraq based on mutual respect, dignity, altruism and self-interest. CFIQ members warmed to the quote I gave them from a leading Communist in Iraq who told us that, I paraphrase slightly, “we don’t have a bourgeoisie, can we borrow yours?”

I fear that we are not doing enough, in our own self-interest and that of Iraq, to maximise commercial opportunities in Iraq.

Part of the explanation for this is the toxic image of Iraq. I hope that LFIQ and CFIQ can between them bring new Iraqi voices and realities into the public, parliamentary, political and commercial understanding of Iraq.

Gary Kent
Director, Labour Friends of Iraq