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| Axis of Evil |
| Blair warns Iraq: we have had enough |
| 2003-01-14 |
| Britain's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has unequivocally committed his country to joining an American invasion of Iraq without a second United Nations resolution, if necessary, and warned that North Korea may need to be tackled with similar force. Mr Blair signalled that once the world had dealt with Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction, other recalcitrant states such as North Korea would be next. Tackling Iraq would send a message to other so-called rogue states that it was not acceptable to possess such weapons, he said. "I agree North Korea is a big threat and that is why the United Nations is going to have to discuss North Korea too ... We have got to systematically go through the countries where this a problem." Not enforcing those resolutions would send a "dire" signal to Iraq and North Korea, he said. In a speech to the media, he said he was certain Saddam Hussein held weapons of mass destruction and that the Iraqi leader would be disarmed with or without a second UN resolution. Mr Blair said it was his preference and expectation that the UN would pass a second Security Council resolution if the UN weapons inspectors deem that Iraq has breached UN rules. If one country on the council imposed an "unreasonable or unilateral" block, "we can't be in a position where we are confined in that way". "However, I do not believe as a matter of fact that will happen." Humm, does he know something we don't? Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, said Australia's forthcoming deployment to Iraq should be seen as part of the UN process, an attempt to intimidate Saddam into revealing his weapons of mass destruction. "We must be frank. The only reason Iraq has acquiesced so far is the threat of military force," he writes in today's Herald.. "He still seems to think he can get away with doing the bare minimum. If he still hasn't got the message then we must send a tougher, clearer one." Written on the side of a JDAM. Mr Blair, citing daily intelligence reports as proof, said he was "quite sure" that Iraq, contrary to its assurances, was hiding chemical and biological weapons that posed a "direct threat to British national security". "I don't believe Iraq's September declaration [denying it possessed such weapons]. I don't think anyone does. I am quite sure, I think most people are, that he [Saddam] has these weapons." He's seen the proof. We will too, and soon, I hope. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 It has been supposedly said that the Iraqis use faster cars and strategically placed traffic jams to get ahead of the inspection teams and clear the area: one inspector has noted darkly that the managers of all the sites they have visited are too "well prepared". The evidence is probably satellite photos or predator videos of the Iraquis quickly cleaning a site prior to the arrival of the inspectors. See my comment in the next post. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-01-14 14:41:36 |
| #1 I wish that our leaders on the west side of the Pond would come out more like Tony Blair. I cannot help but think that Tony is worried about the high level of mosque construction down the street, petitions, and those famous fatwas that could be generated inside Britain. Got to cut off the enemy's head before the fifth column gets his (and ours). |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-01-14 10:37:41 |