Iraq: Future Strategic Relationship

The right hon. Gentleman is, of course, correct that I have not yet heard the rest of his speech, but I have reread the statement that the Prime Minister gave to the House on similar themes on 18 December. He said that our relationship with Iraq would be"““the realisation of a normal defence relationship, similar to those we have with our other key partners in the region””.—[Official Report, 18 December 2008; Vol. 485, c. 1235.]" We do not have strategic relationships with other countries in the region; we have friendly, normal relations. I suggest again to the Secretary of State that a strategic relationship implies an ongoing, substantial commitment, such as the United States will certainly have to the overall defence of Iraq. As I understand, it is no part of the British Government's policy that we should give long-term commitments similar to those being offered by the United States.