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HOWARD'S WAY.... a weekly column from Michael Howard MP

23 November 2006

 

The Queen’s Speech marks the start of the Parliamentary year. It is a magnificent piece of theatre, symbolising the monarch’s continuing role in our constitution. The debate which follows is usually the only debate in the whole year when Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition both speak. It is also the longest debate in the Parliamentary year, lasting for 5 days.

I spoke on Wednesday, after the Party Leaders had made their speeches. There were things I wanted to say about Iraq and Afghanistan, the two greatest challenges that our country faces today. I wanted to talk about the future, not the past. Many different views are held about our intervention in both countries and what followed intervention. But the burning question we face, in both countries, is what now?

The goal of achieving a peaceful, stable and democratic Iraq is a noble one. But can it be achieved? In my judgement there is one step, above all others, which must be taken if there is to be any chance of success. The continuing existence of independent, armed militias owing their loyalty to political parties, Cabinet Ministers or other leaders, is quite unacceptable. It is completely inconsistent with any notion of law and order and the impartial administrations of justice.

So the Iraqi government really must confront these militias and ensure that the only armed forces in the country are those loyal to the government as a whole.

If they need help in achieving this very difficult objective, every effort should be made to provide that help. But if they cannot, or will not, make a start on dealing with this fundamental problem then I fear we shall not succeed in achieving our objective of a peaceful, stable and democratic country. If that is indeed the case we need to ask some very searching questions about whether we are justified in continuing to ask our servicemen and women to risk, and perhaps, give their lives.

Similar considerations arise in respect of Afghanistan. Here the problem is bribery and corruption. There is now abundant anecdotal evidence that it is, for example, impossible to travel along any main road in the country without being stopped at an official checkpoint and asked for money. This, too, is completely unacceptable and is certainly one of the reasons for the resurgence of the Taliban.

President Karzai and his government really must tackle this problem. Again if they need help, every effort should be made to provide it. But if he cannot, or will not, confront this evil, then some searching questions must be asked.

Were we not to do so we would be failing in our duty to those men and women who are serving so magnificently on our behalf.