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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| UK minister says Iran not part of axis of evil |
| 2010-02-09 |
| [Iran Press TV Latest] Britain's official inquiry into the Iraq war for the second time linked the conflict with Iran at a session on Monday dedicated to further investigate the invasion's legality. The former foreign secretary and the incumbent justice secretary, Jack Straw, reappeared before the Downing Street-selected committee investigating the build up to the 2003 war and denied "ignoring" legal advice that war would be in breach of international law without a second UN Security Council resolution. During his testimony, however, Straw ventured to mention Iran, this time with a view starkly opposing those expressed by former Premier Tony Blair, who urged strong international action against the country over it energy nuclear program. "Iran have not invaded any other country," the Times quoted Straw as saying Monday during the testimony. "They [Iran] couldn't stand al-Qaeda ... or the Taliban anymore than we could," said the British minister who asserted that the country's inclusion in former US President George Bush's "axis of evil" incomprehensible. "I think it's simplistic to regard Iran as a bogeyman," Straw said. An unrepentant Tony Blair, the prime minister at the time of the Iraq war, portrayed Iran as nothing short of a growing threat during his evidence to the Chilcot inquiry two weeks ago, as he veered off the Iraq question to argue that al-Qaeda's 9/11 attack in the United States had been the major factor that balance the scale towards acting on Iraq. Blair mentioned Iran 58 times during his appearance and argued that he now sees the same justification for invading Iraq about Iran. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 I seem to recall Debka or some similar source reporting Israeli predictions that the Iranian nuke program would reach a critical mass (so to speak) by Feb 2010 if it weren't stopped. Looks like they were right, given the recent announcement of higher concentration uranium processing. Straw was one of the pooh-poohers of that prediction, a man who treasures his stripped morning suit and the formal occasions on which he is able to wear them. |
| Posted by: lotp 2010-02-09 19:17 |
| #7 I really don't think it matters what a blathering former UK pol says. I suspect a limited scope strike against Iran, with a stronger backchannel warning to follow, will soon be forthcoming. The 12-24 hour ball will then be squarely in their court. If they retaliate, all hell will break loose. The next few weeks should be quite interesting. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-09 08:22 |
| #6 And this idiot was foreign minister? |
| Posted by: Spot 2010-02-09 08:16 |
| #5 "I think it's simplistic to regard Iran as a bogeyman," Straw said. In the search for nuance and compromise, the simple truth is oftentimes denied. Not a great deal new here. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-09 08:15 |
| #4 UK minister |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2010-02-09 08:07 |
| #3 Straw. That is what is inside his head. Rotting straw at that. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2010-02-09 06:45 |
| #2 "I think it's simplistic to regard Iran as a bogeyman," Straw said. Oooh dear. I knew the man has a labotomy, but didnt realise he was blind too. |
| Posted by: Oscar 2010-02-09 05:24 |
| #1 An almost eerie comparison to a prewar Hitler apologist. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-02-09 04:00 |