BASRAH — Prime Minister Tony Blair paid a flying visit to Basrah Dec. 17 to meet and thank British troops stationed there.
Having flown in from Baghdad, Blair was met by Maj. Gen. Richard Shirreff, General Officer Commanding, Multinational Division (South East).
Blair was then greeted by hundreds of soldiers, some seated on the armoured vehicles which they operate on a daily basis on their patrols and operations around the Basrah area.
Mr Blair met personnel from all three services, many of whom were members of the Army's 19 Light Brigade, which is the principal military force in South Eastern Iraq.
He then gave a speech in which he thanked the forces for their continued work in Iraq and reminded them of the support which the British public gives troops serving abroad and the high esteem in which they were held. Prime Minister Tony Blair said:
"The fact is, every time you go out and you take on the people, the ones to hold this country back, this city back, this region back, our world back, every time you do that you're striking a blow for values that matter very much to our people and to our future back home. So you're not just brave, what you're doing is good and right and important. And from the bottom of my heart I thank you for it."
After meeting the servicemembers, Blair was taken to the headquarters building for an update on the work of the British Forces in Multinational Division (South East).
He also viewed a memorial wall, dedicated to those servicemembers who have given their lives in South Eastern Iraq since 2003.
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