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Britain urges US to delay war until autumn
Britain is pressing for war against Iraq to be delayed for several months, possibly until the autumn, to give weapons inspectors more time to provide clear evidence of new violations by Saddam Hussein...Infinitely more time will be necessary if the UN continues at its current pace. ..."There is an assumption that there will be a campaign before the summer because of the heat. The autumn would be just as sensible a time and in the meanwhile Saddam would be thoroughly constrained by the inspectors."... By that logic, winter 2004 is better still. ...British officials hope that London's reservations and Mr Blair's growing problems in the Labour Party will help to tip the balance in the Bush administration in favour of delay. But they accept that Britain will go along with an American-led war in almost all circumstances, including a conflict in the spring if Washington is determined to launch an early campaign.... This attitude shows why the UK is our only real ally and we should take their counsel. But, it also raises this concern: Don't we risk our credibility as well as proliferation of Saddam's WMD if we accept the council of the Brits do not walk our talk soon? Bush has some big decisions to make at the end of the month. Posted by: JAB 2003-01-09 |
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