“[Efforts to rebuild and stabilize the country] are being challenged at every step, ... and we expect terrorists to step up their attempts to create civil tensions and prevent national unity ahead of the constitutional referendum.”
“The people in the southern provinces have no interest whatsoever to see British forces leave because they're providing security, stability, structure, and relations have always been good ... really between the British forces and the local Iraqis in this area,”
“I think this project of democracy-building in Iraq has alarmed many authoritarian autocratic regimes in the region, ... Many of them are counting on our failure, and they have not been helpful.”
“This in my view and the view of the Iraqi government has set a bad precedent and sent all the wrong messages, ... Terrorists should not be rewarded. Otherwise, this could repeat itself.”
