BBC NEWS | Politics | UK 'lacked post-war Iraq plans'

BBC NEWS | Politics | UK 'lacked post-war Iraq plans'

The US-led coalition failed to plan properly for Iraq's insurgency after the ousting of Saddam Hussein, a committee of MPs says in a report.

Planning for the post-conflict phase in Iraq was "marred by a series of mistakes and misjudgements", the Commons Defence Committee said.

The coalition also underestimated the reconstruction needed, it said.

Although there had been "encouraging signs" recently, UK troops would need to remain in Iraq until 2006, it added.

This was because Iraq's security forces would not be capable of taking over until then at the earliest.

It added that because of the security situation, Britain's deployment of 8,000 troops was unlikely to be reduced until 2006 - almost three years on from the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

You don't say! In a piss brewery arrange up a couldn't (rearrange to suit).