New Delhi
30 November 2005
"Yes, we overestimated the extent of Saddam
Hussein's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programmes,"
British Foreign Minister Jack Straw has said. He observed that Britain
also "underestimated" the level of resistance it would encounter in Iraq.
Dwelling at some length on 'Islam' and 'the West' in his speech on the
theme of 'A Dialogue of Cultures' at a dinner hosted by the Foreign Press
Association on Tuesday, Mr Straw also said, "Both the United Kingdom
and the European Union are supporting the peace efforts in Darfur and in
Kashmir."
"Yes, we overestimated the extent of Saddam Hussein's nuclear,
chemical and biological weapons programmes. And, as I have said
before, we underestimated the level of resistance we would encounter this
far down the line. But Saddam Hussein was a tyrant who had persecuted
millions of Muslims in his own country. On two occasions this year
millions of Iraqi Muslims have braved real danger and gone out to vote.
We are supporting their efforts to build a stable and accountable system
of government and to secure long-term prosperity. And we won't stay any
longer than we are wanted," he said in his speech, a copy of which was
made available by the British High Commission in India.
Asserting that the argument a "uniformly dogmatic" Islamic world and an
"enlightened, secular West" was not correct, he said, "In Western
countries religion plays a much greater part in public and private life than
is often assumed. America, by its constitution, claims to separate church
and state - but on the back of every dollar bill there is the legend 'In God
we Trust', and, I am told, more than half of Americans support the teaching
of creationism in science lessons."
"Here in Europe, the roots of religion run deep. I remember being
surprised to find that one of my roles as Home Secretary was to swear in
new Anglican Bishops at the palace. Each day the British Parliament
opens with Anglican prayers" he added.
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