Kennedy highlights uncounted civilian dead of Iraq (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

Kennedy highlights uncounted civilian dead of Iraq

December 19, 2008 9:25 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Ross, Skye & Lochaber MP Charles Kennedy yesterday called on Gordon Brown to recognise the scale of the civilian death toll in Iraq as a result of the war there since 2003. Mr Kennedy's statement came as he welcomed the Prime Minister's announcement that a memorial to the 178 British personnel killed in the conflict to date, currently standing in Basra, will be brought back to the UK.

The move will be part of the withdrawal process which will see all but 400 UK troops leave the country by 31st July 2009.Charles Kennedy MP: Ross, Skye & Lochaber

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Kennedy said:

"The Prime Minister was correct to speak of the plans to bring home the remembrance memorial for the 178 personnel whom this country lost in Iraq-let us hope that that total is not added to over the next six months.

"But was there not something fundamentally remiss about his statement? It made no reference whatever to the vast number of innocent Iraqis - men, women and children, young and old alike - who perished during all this. Most shamefully in terms of history, the Americans and ourselves did not even bother to count the tally."

Responding, Gordon Brown said:

"I acknowledge the sufferings of the Iraqi people. It is precisely to protect and support the Iraqi people that we have been trying to provide better facilities, jobs and help in the area of Basra where we have been most active."

Commenting following the exchange, the Ross, Skye & Lochaber MP added:

"I welcome the fact that we finally have plans in place to bring our troops home, and allow the Iraqi people to take full control of their own country. I regret that it has taken a new American President to bring about that change.

"It is absolutely right that we recognise and commit to remember the ultimate sacrifice which so many British servicemen and women have made, just as it is right that we bring the remaining troops out of harm's way as early as possible.

"We must also recognise the huge Iraqi death toll of the conflict - which some estimates place above 90,000. That loss of innocent life will leave its legacy in Iraq long after our troops come home. The fact that no Government has counted those casualties, and that our Prime Minister cannot even bring himself to mention them, is deeply harmful to repairing the bitterness and resentment which is felt by their families."

Notes:

The full text of the exchange is below:

Mr. Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye and Lochaber) (LD): While the Prime Minister was correct to speak of the plans to bring home the remembrance memorial for the 178 personnel whom this country lost in Iraq-let us hope that that total is not added to over the next six months-was there not something fundamentally remiss about his statement? It made no reference whatever to the last memorial that we leave behind of the vast number of innocent Iraqis-men, women and children, young and old alike-who perished during all this. Most shamefully in terms of history, the Americans and ourselves did not even bother to count the tally. Will the Prime Minister acknowledge that while those people may be lost to history, they are not lost in the hearts of their families and communities, and that that bitterness and legacy of hatred will now go on for generations? Is there anything arising from today's statement that he and his American counterparts will endeavour to do to redress the grotesque oversight of no body count and no names?

The Prime Minister: I acknowledge the sufferings of the Iraqi people. It is precisely to protect and support the Iraqi people that we have been trying to provide better facilities, jobs and help in the area of Basra where we have been most active. I think the right hon. Gentleman will find that, according to opinion surveys, the Iraqi people believe that the presence of British troops has made a difference to the quality of their lives. He must not forget the violence practised against the Iraqi people by Saddam Hussein, and we must not forget that we were dealing with a dictatorship and that we now have a democracy.

North Tayside Liberal Democrats