Beckett: Grim truth about Iraq

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The possible break-up of Iraq into three separate states was acknowledged for the first time by Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, yesterday as she scaled back expectations of what could be achieved before British and US forces leave.

(snip)
Mrs Beckett, after talks in London with Mr Salih, accepted that the invasion of Iraq might come to be judged as a "foreign policy disaster" for Britain.

When asked on BBC Radio 4's The World At One if historians would hold that view, she said: "Yes, they may. Then again, they may not."

(snip)
Mrs Beckett's unguarded remarks will be seen as an indication that a radical rethink is under way behind the scenes in Government despite the public assurances from Mr Blair and other ministers that Britain will stay "until the job is done".


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