E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Blair faces resignations over Iraq
A number of ministerial aides are threatening to resign if British troops go to war against Iraq without a fresh mandate from the United Nations. In other statements against the government's position, the former solicitor general said it would be "flagrantly unlawful" to go to war without a further UN resolution. And former armed forces minister Doug Henderson warned that the Labour party was facing "one of the most critical periods" he could remember over the issue.
In other words, they're going to keep trying until they can dent Tony...
Downing Street insists it is confident the Security Council will back the draft resolution in a vote proposed to take place on Tuesday. Tony Blair, spending Sunday at his Chequers official country residence, is thought to be engaged in an intensive round of telephone diplomacy over the deadline idea.
I don't think it's going to work, but he's trying...
In the UK, an opinion poll in a Sunday newspaper suggests increasing public support for military action against Iraq. The survey — by ICM in the News of the World - indicates 69% back the use of force to confront Saddam Hussein.
Good, a welcome statistic...
But only 15% would support a war without a second UN Security Council resolution.
Apalling that so many are happy to exercise opinion by foreign proxy. What, pray tell, do they think France, China and Russia can impart in the way of moral authority? Depressing...
The British and American publics have both been fed the pap for 50 years that the UN counts for something. It's a mystical thing, kind of like getting the Pope's blessing was in the Middle Ages...
Five parliamentary private secretaries — MPs who work as assistants to ministers — would step down if action was taken without UN backing, says the Sunday Telegraph.
Nice when the dead wood drops throws itself off the tree...
Former Solicitor General Lord Archer of Sandwell said military action could only be justified in self-defence, or where the Security Council deemed it necessary to preserve international peace.
Or if we were invaded by demons...
Not worthy of comment
Neither case applied in the current situation, the Labour peer told GMTV. He urged Prime Minister Tony Blair to do all he could to get a resolution passed — but if he could not, to accept defeat to stop history remembering him "as the person who went to war unlawfully". Mr Henderson said Mr Blair had failed to convince the British population, key members of the UN, many MPs and probably some Cabinet members of the case for war.
Many of whom remain resulutely opposed to being convinced...
"Upwards of 150" Labour MPs could rebel if a second resolution was not secured, he told GMTV. And he estimated about 95% of local Labour members opposed war without explicit UN authorisation.
Goes to show how astounding it is that Tony nominally represents such a bunch of pacifist imbeciles.
Public protests against the war continue, with tens of thousands taking to Britain's streets on Saturday.
International Womens' Day. Shame more Iraqi women couldn't come along. Suppose those being raped in Saddam's cells would have appreciated it. No doubt some have been shown the pictures.
Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-09
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=11067