[Peace-discuss] War and England

Wed Jan 15 07:43:22 CST 2003

Blair warns against weakness on Iraq

Blair and Bush are expected to meet this month

Future generations will be haunted by the consequences of weakness if the 
threat of Iraq's weapons is not confronted, Tony Blair has warned. 
Mr Blair's defence of his Iraq policy in the House of Commons at prime 
minister's questions came shortly after a closed meeting at which he tried to 
win over doubters amongst his own backbench MPs. 

 The threat is real and if we do not deal with it, the consequences of our 
weakness will haunt future generations."

Tony Blair

Further opposition came from Church of England bishops who delivered their 
sternest message yet against war. 

But Mr Blair, who will meet US President George Bush later this month, 
refused in public or private to give the guarantee the doubters want - that 
he will not back unilateral American action against Iraq. 

In the Commons, Mr Blair dismissed "conspiracy theories" suggesting the 
threat of war was really about oil supplies. 

'Unpopular' words 

Mr Blair again warned the chemical, biological or nuclear weapons could fall 
into terrorist hands if left unchecked. 

He continued: "This is a difficult time and I understand the concerns that 
people have." 

"But sometimes prime ministers have to say the things people do not want them 
to say but we believe are necessary to say. 

 A fresh UN resolution is absolutely essential if this military action is to 
be morally justified 

Richard Harries
Bishop of Oxford

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"Because the threat is real and if we do not deal with it, the consequences 
of our weakness will haunt future generations." 

He dismissed "conspiracy theories" suggesting the threat of war was really 
about oil supplies. 

Mr Blair also denied Conservative claims there were divisions between himself 
and cabinet minister Clare Short. 

Ms Short has said the UK should not back any action without a second UN 
resolution. 

The prime minister instead says an "unreasonable or unilateral" block would 
not be allowed to confine other nations. 

Reassurance drive 

Earlier, Mr Blair faced a barrage of questions from backbenchers about Iraq 
at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. 

Labour Chairman John Reid said MPs had show their "overwhelming support" for 
Mr Blair at the meeting. 

Peace protests focused on Ark Royal on Wednesday 

But other MPs left the meeting saying privately they were as unconvinced as 
ever. 

Worries about Iraq come ahead of expected disquiet over a government 
announcement that it is "minded" to support America's controversial 'Son of 
Star Wars' missile defence programme. 

Moral critique 

Church of England bishops have also reiterated their opposition to military 
action in Iraq. 

The Bishop of Birmingham said the government was looking to act as "judge, 
jury and executioner". 

Peace campaigners have meanwhile blocked road access to HMS Ark Royal, which 
is in Loch Long in Scotland, before heading for the Gulf. 

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said the aircraft carrier was almost fully 
loaded and the protesters were not interfering with operations. 

General Wesley Clark, Nato's former Supreme Commander Europe, predicted a war 
on Iraq was likely to start in mid to late February. 

The general told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he did not think the US 
Administration would want to wait for another UN Security Council resolution 
before taking action. 

Time warning 

US President George Bush is warning "time is running out" for Iraqi leader 
Saddam Hussein to surrender the weapons of mass destruction which the US 
believes he owns. 

"I'm sick and tired of games and deception," said Mr Bush. 

Mr Blair is reportedly to meet the US president in America later this month, 
after weapons inspectors report to the UN. 

Clive Soley, former chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, told BBC 
Radio 4's Today programme that part of MPs' concern stemmed from discomfort 
about close links with President Bush. 

Labour MP Anne Campbell, who backs Mr Blair's Iraq policy, said she thought 
half of her constituency party members would resign if the UK backed military 
action without UN authority. 

  WATCH/LISTEN  

  ON THIS STORY  

  The BBC's John Devitt
"On Iraq, Mr Blair seems to have broken a habit of a lifetime"

  General Wesley Clarke, former Nato commander
"I don't think the US will be prepared to wait"

  Peter Mandelson, Labour MP
"We should let the inspectors do their job"

Full coverage 

Key stories
Build-up accelerates
Will UK 'miss the war'?
Next steps 

Analysis
Blair's war talk
Confusing signals
Turkey's jitters 

 IN DEPTH 

Voices from Iraq
Timeline: Saddam's Iraq 

 BBC WORLD SERVICE 

News in Arabic 

 MAPPING THE CONFLICT 

Iraq navigator (Flash)
Key maps (HTML) 

 AUDIO VIDEO 

TV and Radio reports 

 TALKING POINT 

Does war need further UN backing? 