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Iraq

Far be it from me to launch an undeserved and prejudiced attack on the ““Today”” programme, whose staff I have always found to be objective observers of events in Iraq. We should note the comments made yesterday by the former Chief of the Defence Staff, Lord Boyce, who in my last interview was used as an example to me of how everything was completely black in terms of overstretch and so on. I think that he put the record straight. The truth is that people in this country are mature enough to know that we are in the course of a very deep and desperate struggle against terrorism internationally and that Iraq is one of the theatres in which that struggle is at its bloodiest. That is precisely because of the point made by the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne): it is not a local but a big strategic issue. I believe, the Government believe, and I hope that the House believes that those who happen to be Arabs or Muslims have no less right than people in this country to democratic self-determination of their future. As they grasp that right to self-determination, to build democratic institutions in their own shape, as well as the security forces to protect them, and to achieve greater prosperity for their people, we should stand beside them. There will be difficulties, perhaps even greater than those we face now if the terrorists have their way, but we will see our way through those difficulties and stand by the Iraqi people. I have no doubt that, ultimately, the Iraqi people will grasp self-determination and defeat the terrorists.