EPOLTIX -- Basra in Southern Iraq is a changed place, compared to my visit last July. The 'Charge of the Knights' clean-up of the city in March, led by the Iraqi Army, supported by U. S. and British Army Training Teams, has transformed the security situation for ordinary Iraqis. The decision by Iraqi Prime Minister Norui-al-Maliki to bring it forward has been a great success.

Photo: An electrical substation has opened in Basra which should improve the electrical connections in up to 2,500 homes in the Al Qibla area of the city. At a cost of just over $3¼ million, the project was the first in a series of eight electrical substations which will improve supply to the area. Pictured are Major General Abdul Aziz (Iraqi Army), Lieutenant Colonel Felix Gedney and Consul General Nigel Haywood at the Al Qibla substation opening.

I spent last week in and around Basra and met with General Mohammed and his deputy General Abdul Aziz (Commander 14th Division) who head the Iraqi Army there, at their HQ in the centre of the city. Before that I had visited British forces on the ships guarding the oil terminals and discussed the protection of the Gulf with the commander of the US fleet there, Vice Admiral Cosgriff.

Following an interesting interchange about US perceptions and analysis of Iranian influence in the Gulf and the need for measured plans to address it and talk to them; a US Blackhawk helicopter ride saw me on Royal Fleet Auxiliary, ‘Carmarthen Bay’.

It is often forgotten that we have over 1,600 Navy personnel serving in and off Iraq. I stayed overnight on the frigate HMS ‘Chatham’ talking to the sailors and Royal Marines on duty. The oil terminals, which provide 80% of Iraq’s revenue, were much improved since my last visit to them three years ago. They are now guarded by Iraqi Marines who put on a show for us, combining with one of the Iraqi Navy craft that are part of the protection.

The Iraqi Navy benefit from the work of the UK Naval Transition Team, based at the port of Um Qasr. Since I visited them a year ago the Iraqi’s have decided to triple the size of their Navy and ships are being built. The British Naval Transition Team is more than proving their worth.

Photo: Major General Andy Salmon General Officer Commanding Multi National Division (South East) shakes hands with Staff Major General Abdul Aziz General Officer Commanding 14th Division Iraqi Army at the Joint Security Station in the Hyyanniah district of Basra.

The commercial port at Um Qasr and the river entrance has been cleaned up and is operating at 50% capacity, now that most of the corrupt elements have been kicked out of the port and the Iraqi Navy put in control. The improvements planed for the oil terminals and the port may seem overdue but offer great potential and are increasingly ‘open for business’ and I met with the Basra Development commission to discuss that.

My next US helicopter ride was to the British base at Basra International Airport where I spent four days meeting many of our troops and Royal Air Force personnel. I saw the benefits of the new vehicles and equipment being delivered to them. From the new Mastiff armored personnel carriers to Bulldog fighting vehicles; new armored supply trucks and Un-manned Arial Vehicles and helicopters.

All were ‘getting a good press’ from our people, as was the new personal protection kit and attack proof sleeping and eating quarters. As a member of the Defence Committee I have worked to see these improvements, along with state of the art medical facilities and it was good to see them in place.

I usually find at least one constituent on my visits to our armed services abroad and this time was no different. None of the Welsh regiments are in Basra but one of those driving the new armored delivery trucks is Corporal Rachel Davies from Plymouth Street Merthyr. An Army they say fights on its stomach and is nothing without water, fuel and ammunition. Not an easy task to supply these things in a hostile environment but vital to the mission.

It is meeting people like Rachel, a young mum working as a professional in such hostile and difficult conditions (48C by 10 a.m.) that brings home what a great contribution our valley people make to our defense and the discharge of our international obligations. I was protected in Basra City by a boy from Gelligaer and met people from Bridgend; the Rhondda; Newport; a Physio who played for Rhymney and to my surprise, one of our Assistant Chief Constables from South Wales Police; ACC Geoff Cooper.

Geoff (from Cardiff) is leading the Civil Police mission to Iraq and shuttles between Baghdad and Basra. One of the most important but most difficult tasks in Iraq is to get an efficient and un-corrupt Police Force. Geoff says he is working well with the new Iraqi Police chief Major General Adel, who I also met briefly; brave men doing vital work. I salute all of our people who take on such tasks and I am proud of them and know our communities will echo my salute and share my pride in their courage and commitment.

Rebuilding Iraq is difficult and depends on local people who wish to succeed and with whom you can work constructively. I met with Governor Wa’ili and some local Sheiks (tribal leaders) who are elected members of the Provincial Council to see what progress there had been. I had not met Governor Wa’ili before. He has a controversial reputation and I quizzed him on why the money was not being spent to mend the water and sewerage systems in the city.

I had met the two Provincial Council members, last July, when we sat in an office under mortar fire! We half-joked about the quiet this time and they explained why the change in Basra was so swift.

The job of expelling militias and terror groups from the city and staying to create Joint Security Stations, carried out by the Iraqi Army, not a foreign force, they say was the key. Their biggest concern now is to consolidate that change and they say the most important task is to reduce the 50% unemployment; especially that affecting un-trained young men. Many of the arguments sounded familiar to me but were better to hear than mortar and rockets being fired!

The Military Training Teams who live and deploy with the Iraqis in the city are brave and are clearly making a difference. I visited one of them and saw some of their work, including some of the Iraqi detainees the Iraqi Army had just lifted, following their training. The Iraqi Generals, Mohamed and Aziz say they want their help for another year and are hopeful for peaceful Regional and Provincial elections in the autumn.

There were many other British personnel from DFID; and the Foreign Office; as well as contractors and UN staff whom I met who are trying to seize the benefits of the dramatically changed conditions. Basra is still a dangerous place but the security task is changing making it look more like parts of Northern Ireland in the 1970’s rather than a war zone.

What then will happen next and how soon can we withdraw most of our people? The President Bush/Neo-Con ‘adventure’ in Iraq, which I did not support, is coming to an end. I saw that last July and again in November when I spent a week in Baghdad meeting elected Iraqi’s; discussing with them how best to build their democracy.

The world has been somewhat ‘stuck’ awaiting a new US President for a year now and by December we will know who that is. The Iraqi’s will have had their Provincial and Regional elections. The Airport at Basra has commercial flights and the British and others need to move out of it and let it develop its commercial future.

As the UN mandate ends, the US is negotiating its own long term agreement with Iraq and we, the UK, need our own new bi-lateral agreement with Iraq. We do not need to withdraw from Iraq but to change our forms of help. We will, hopefully, not need a garrison force of troops in a year’s time but we must be clear.
To make the best of what was an ill-conceived and ill-timed US Neo-Con ‘adventure’; what is emerging is the need for a military and civil security presence which continues to protect the Gulf with long term training aid to the Iraqi Navy; embedded training for the Army and Police Services; coupled with economic development and commercial development.

One of the Sheiks has invited me to his home in Basra when I visit our troops again next year and I am looking forward to that, without the sound of gunfire. That will be a good tribute to all those from our valleys who have made and continue to make it possible.