[Peace-discuss] england's task force

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Navy taskforce to set sail

 
No decisions taken on military action, says Mr Hoon

The aircraft carrier Ark Royal is to lead a naval taskforce sailing towards 
the Gulf next month, on their way to "long-planned" exercises in the Indian 
Ocean. 
The Ministry of Defence said that contingency plans were in place to divert 
the vessels for war with Iraq if necessary. 

 We do not require the specific agreement of the Security Council
 


Geoff Hoon
 
The news came shortly after defence secretary Geoff Hoon said on BBC Radio 
4's Today programme that war with Iraq was not "imminent or inevitable". 

Mr Hoon, who is to make a statement to MPs on war planning later on 
Wednesday, also said the approval of the UN Security Council and the UK 
Parliament was not required before military action was taken against Saddam 
Hussein. 

Ministry of Defence officials told BBC News Online the taskforce would be 
taking part in a long-planned exercise, called Operation Flying Fish, which 
will culminate in Singapore and Malaysia in June. 

Commons debate? 

A spokeswoman said the taskforce had to "pass through" the Gulf but would not 
be taking part in any exercises in the region. 

"There are contingency plans, but... until any decision has been made the 
task group will be heading for Asia-Pacific. 

 
US forces are on exercise in Kuwait 
"At this point it is not heading for the Gulf. It could head for the Gulf." 

Meanwhile, Mr Hoon told the BBC that while MPs could expect some debate on 
the issue it might not be about specific military action because "we would 
not necessarily want to signal the timing or the date of any such military 
action in advance". 

Hiring ships 

A substantial number of left-wing Labour MPs have been pushing for a vote on 
the issue before troops are deployed. 

The news of the taskforce's schedule came the day after MoD disclosed that 
ships were being hired to take any troops needed to the Gulf. 

Some regular troop units being put on notice so they could move quickly if 
required.  
Saddam Hussein should 'peacefully disarm', says Mr Hoon 

Tanks were also being prepared for desert conditions, with their filters and 
fans to be changed so they could cope with sand. 

But officials stressed that the moves were only contingency plans - no troops 
had yet been deployed, nor had the size of any force been decided. 

Mr Hoon echoed this by emphasising "that no decision has been taken to launch 
military action". 

Peaceful route 

But he said it was "important that members of the Security Council, including 
the United Kingdom, are in a position to take military action should that be 
necessary". 

However, when he was asked if the UK required Security Council agreement to 
launch a military strike, Mr Hoon replied: "We do not require the specific 
agreement of the Security Council." 

Asked if that would mean the US and UK would take unilateral action, he said: 
"It is always the prerogative of individual members of the Security Council 
to take such decisions." 

The defence secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government's 
preferred position was "that we should not have to resort to military 
action", that there should be a "peaceful route to disarmament and that's a 
matter for Saddam Hussein to decide". 

'War inevitable' 

The news came as Iraqi opposition groups meeting in London agreed on the 
make-up of a committee that could form the basis for a new government in 
Baghdad. 

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has also added to speculation when he said 
there were "problems" with Iraq's declaration about its weapons programmes.  
Iraqi politicians are preparing a post-Saddam future 

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to be drawn on this and said the 
British Government would await a full report from UN inspectors. 

But President Assad, who met Mr Blair on Monday, used a speech in London to 
say he thought war was now inevitable. 

A conflict would widen the gap between the West and the Arab world and 
encourage more terrorism, warned President Assad. 

The Syrian leader also claimed America's real interest in Iraq was oil. 

Every eventuality 

An official explained: "We are preparing in a military sense so that the 
threat of military force is there to support the idea that compliance is a 
good idea. 

"But behind that is preparation for actual use of force if that should prove 
necessary." 

Anti-war Labour MP Alice Mahon told BBC2's Westminster Live:Parliament had 
been "badly deceived" in the last debate on Iraq and MPs would not get 
another chance to vote on whether to go to war.