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| Britain |
| Blair braced for Iraq revolt |
| 2003-02-26 |
| Tony Blair is set to face one of his toughest tests of his premiership on Wednesday when MPs debate a motion on the government's stance on Iraq. Anti-war critics predict at least 115 MPs will back an amendment against the government's hardline stance when Parliament gets its latest vote on the Iraq stand-off. A further 47 Liberal Democrat members are believed to have signed their own amendment expressing doubts about the pace towards war. The UK Government has made it clear that Saddam Hussein has as little as two weeks to start disarming or face the possibility of military action. As he tried to win over critics to his stance on Iraq, Mr Blair said inaction would make a future war more appalling, as well as undermining the UN. There was no "rush to war" and Saddam had been given 12 years to disarm voluntarily, he added. The chairman of the Labour Party, John Reid, said he regretted any rebellion, but said the majority of people supported the government's stance. "It is about 20% of people who are saying, in effect, we are not going to use any military action against Saddam Hussein, come what may," he told BBC Two's Newsnight. "I regret that. But I think it doesn't represent the 75% of people who say in the last instance we will be prepared to do this, especially through the United Nations." Mr Blair said he "detested" the Iraqi regime, but even now Saddam could save his government by disarming peacefully. Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said on Tuesday that there is no room for negotiation over the Al-Samoud missiles. Mr Blair predicted that Saddam would start "playing games" over the missiles. Mr Blair's stance has won support from Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith. But Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy criticised Mr Blair for his "shifting arguments" over tackling Iraq, which had left the British public "highly sceptical". Readers might remember arch-populist Kennedy from the anti The prime minister met German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday as part of his diplomatic drive. After Mr Blair's meeting with King Abdullah a joint statement was issued by Downing Street. It said that both the UK and Jordan favour a "peaceful solution through full Iraqi disarmament" but that time was running out. Mr Blair also held talks with General Tommy Franks, head of US central military command, who is meeting defence officials in London. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #5 The House of Commons voted to back Blair The Associated Press Wednesday, February 26, 2003; 2:21 PM The House of Commons backed Prime Minister Tony Blair's determination to disarm Iraq, voting Wednesday to reject his opponents' assertion that the case for war is "unproven." Blair prevailed despite a substantial rebellion within his Labor Party's ranks, mirroring the divisions which opinion polls have demonstrated in the wider British public. Lawmakers voted 393-199 to defeat an amendment which said "the case for military action against Iraq (is) as yet unproven." It was not immediately clear how many members of Blair's Labor Party backed the amendment, but about 100 had signed the measure. Legislators planned to vote later Wednesday on the government's own Iraq motion, which expresses support for working through the United Nations and urges Saddam Hussein to seize a "final opportunity" to comply fully with the Security Council's demands. (via Drudge) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-02-26 13:50:38 |
| #4 If the next UNSC resolution was because Tony Blair needed help back home, then this vote just killed that need to even screw with the council. Tony is secure and we don't need no stinkin comments from across the room [or channel]. Let's roll! |
| Posted by: Don 2003-02-26 18:58:49 |
| #3 What is even more significant is that the Tories, Blair's political opposition, unanimously backed Blair on both votes, giving REAL substance to the term "Loyal opposition". |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-02-26 17:29:13 |
| #2 I think it was a subconscious slip, Bulldog, implying that somehow the terror networks were attempting to vote against Blair. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-02-26 06:08:17 |
| #1 Dammit, twas me again Fred, mis-posted and mis-attributed. And I edited it for length. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-02-26 03:27:38 |