Dai Havard

Labour Party | Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney

Scrutiny and Intelligent Choices

It is almost a year since I was appointed to the House of Commons, Defence Select Committee. During that time I have visited British Armed Services Personnel in several countries. Most recently in Afghanistan, where they are helping provide a secure basis for the Afghan people to build a peaceful and democratic nation - also helping interdict and curtail the drugs trade which produces ‘casualties’ on our own streets. It was therefore good to see their work rewarded with Afghan people voting in large numbers, valuing their possibility to do so.

However the centre of attention of the work of our Armed Services has been their continued involvement in the conflicts in Iraq. As you will know, whilst always certain that something had to be done to help the Iraqi people liberate themselves from the reign of Saddam Hussein, I did not vote to support the drive by the Bush Administration to rush into Warfighting. We now see no stockpiles of WMD found in Iraq and more of the arguments for rushing into such a conflict withdrawn. I didn’t believe many of the claims at the time and coupled with the predictable turmoil we have seen since, my position has been vindicated. I am more hopeful than confident for a change of President in the US next month, and new opportunities for more constructive international co-operation, as it gives me no solace or helps Iraqi’s to just say, “I told you so”.

I am hoping to visit Iraq again soon to see progress towards their elections, promised for January. As I reported following my visit earlier this year, Iraqi people want and need international help and we have a responsibility to continue to contribute. But as we send Welsh Guards and the ‘Welsh Cavalry’ for a tour in Iraq, taking up the baton from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, I will be continuing to scrutinise how they and all our Armed Services, posted across the world, are involved, supported and made as safe as possible, in the vital work they do for us and wish them all ‘safe home’.