London, UK, October 8 2008 – On a day when yet another report urged the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and branded the ‘war on terror’ a disaster, British PM Gordon Brown refused to rule out future military action against Iran, outline when British troops will leave Iraq in their entirety or accept any responsibility for almost five years of carnage in Iraq.

The author of the report by the Oxford Research Group, Paul Rogers, said: "Every aspect of the War on Terror has been counterproductive in Iraq and Afghanistan, from the loss of civilian life through to mass detentions without trial. In short, it has been a disaster. Western countries simply have to face up to the dangerous mistakes of the past six years and recognise the need for new policies."

Commenting on this, Dr Imran Waheed, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, said, "Despite the wealth of evidence to the contrary, Brown continues to defend the Iraq war, denies that the occupation has caused instability in the region and refuses to accept the extent of the carnage caused by the occupation. Brown speaks of democracy, security and reconciliation but makes no mention of brutal occupation, support for dictators and tyrants, increased torture in Iraq and the atrocities carried out at Fallujah, Abu Ghraib and Haditha."
 

"Brown’s announcement of limited withdrawal from only Iraq will not serve to end the legacy of Western colonialism in the Middle East. For the long term stability of the region it is essential that foreign troops withdraw from the entire region, for their meddling has led to almost a century of tyrannical rule, brutal occupation and instability."

"The initial neo-con reasoning of bringing ‘freedom and democracy’ to the Muslim world was no more than a supremacist argument for forcibly changing people’s values. While they propagate the slogans of freedom and pluralism, their lack of concern for human life and imperialistic world view leads to insecurity for all."

[Ends]

Notes to Editors:

For further information please consult Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain’s reports entitled Iraq: The Way Forward and Radicalisation ‘Extremism’ & ‘Islamism’: Realities and Myths in the ‘war on terror’ .