London, Sept.29 : A much decorated officer of the British Army has accused former Prime Minister Tony Blair of letting troops deployed in Iraq down through the implementation of half-baked plans.

Colonel Jorge Mendonca, who was exonerated at a court martial over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners, and had quit the army in disgust over his treatment, told the Daily Mail that a naive Blair spent most of his time "sweeping in on America's coat-tails" with no clear strategy or adequate funding for British forces to rebuild the war-torn south of Iraq.
"I was hung out to dry," the ex-British commander claimed.

In a stinging assessment of the British Government's policy on Iraq, he said: "What is happening in Basra now is a direct result of the incompetence that sent us in there."

Colonel Mendonca says that he was made to feel like a "common criminal" by his own commanders, who subjected him to a "show trial" at a 20 million pound court martial.

He voices his intense pride in the men under his command who endured "inhuman" conditions to stabilise Basra after Saddam Hussein was toppled. But he also vents his fury at those within his battalion who behaved "like bloody animals" in subjecting Iraqi detainees to abuse which left one of them dead.

The stark comments from such a respected military figure will deepen concerns over the Government's handling of the armed forces, amid widespread claims that the Military Covenant - which promises fair treatment for troops - is being broken.

Colonel Mendonca, 44, commanded the Queen's Lancashire Regiment during a gruelling six-month tour of duty in Basra in the summer of 2003 when the sweltering city was almost torn apart by rioting, suicide bombs and power cuts.

On his return he was widely praised, decorated and promoted, but months later he found himself under investigation over a shameful incident when his men violently abused a group of Iraqi detainees one of whom, hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, died in custody.

Colonel Mendonca was charged with neglect of duty and stood trial alongside six other soldiers.

All charges against him were dismissed at a court martial earlier this year due to lack of evidence.

Many believe Colonel Mendonca fell victim to a political witch-hunt aimed at putting an officer in the dock.

He had hoped to continue his promising career but he resigned his commission in disgust earlier this year.

In a further interview next week, Colonel Mendonca condemns what he calls the Army's "politically-neutered" generals for failing to stick up for troops and officers under their command.

And he voices deep scepticism over Gordon Brown's sudden recent interest in Iraq, pointing out that as Chancellor he never provided the military with the money to reflect his "passionate interest" in defence.

"That could be because he doesn't really have an interest." (With inputs from ANI)