Guardian Unltd: Anger as Iraq is kept off Labour agenda

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Inlimited (UK)
Dated Monday September 29

Don't mention the war: anger as Iraq is kept off Labour agenda
'We have nothing to apologise for' - Blair
By Michael White, political editor

Tony Blair last night sidestepped a public row over the war in Iraq after the Labour conference voted to stage emergency debates on the NHS, employment rights and pensions, rather than skewer the leadership over Iraq.

As delegates arrived in Bournemouth for the toughest of the 10 party conferences he has faced, Mr Blair insisted: "I don't think we've got anything to apologise for as a country" over Iraq, and claimed that sticking to controversial health and education policies will be a test of his "mettle and character".
But anti-war protesters accused the government of manipulating the conference to avoid a confrontation on Iraq. Alice Mahon, MP for Halifax, said it was "quite outrageous" that there would not be a vote on the issue . . . .
The four biggest unions, Unison, Amicus, the GMB and the Transport and General Workers' Union, supported each other, guaranteeing that their motions on manufacturing, pensions, employment rights and health topped a poll of delegates for the four contemporary issues to be debated. A motion on Iraq came fifth.
To the dismay of anti-war critics, who blame Mr Blair's mishandling of the crisis for the collapse of public support for his government, that means there will be no vote on Iraq this week.

Read more.
This is outrageous. Blair should be not be geiven a moment's rest for the remainder of his ministry. The demonstrations during the other war ciminal's visit in November will be huge.

ON EDIT:

Related thread: Blair Says He's Proud of Iraq Actions opened by Kellanved. Sunday at 4:45 PDT, also anchored from the Guardian

[Cha]

1. Yeah blair ...keep it up.....you're acting like an arrogant bully...

Do ya think since it seems to be working for bush that you can get away with it, too? Just asking.

[lcordero]

2. His country doesn't have anything to apologize for but he does.

[T_i_B]

3. WHITEWASH

The main characteristics of "new" labour, besides lying and dissembling and smearing and vilifying of those who object to the lying and dissembling is the stiflingof internal debate. "new" labour has lost the argument on Iraq by some distance and now it is trying to censor the debate on iraq as its means of ahem "reinventing" itself.

This is pathetic and yet more evidence that Blair should resign for the good of the labour party. If the party cannot even discuss the policy that has been the hallmark of its 2nd term then the party does not deserve its mandate.

[JCMach1]

4. Simple solution-- VOTE LD

:)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. That's pretty much it

The Bristish Left has a viable alternative to new Labour. Unless Blair steps down and allows the Labour Party to change course, there will be more Brent Easts to come.

If the Green Party were as strong in this country as the Liberal Democratic Party is in Britain, defections from a DLC-dominated Democratic Party would be more common. As it is, Democratic activists have simply rejected the DLC. It appears that Lieberman, the darling of the DLC and the candidate who shows the least daylight between his foreign policy and the Bush junta's vision, will be a victim of the early primaries. The other "Blair Democrats" are scrabling to distance themselves from Bush's scandalous war.

[T_i_B]

7. Even if I were freindly towards Blair

The stifling of internal debate, and the undemocratic way that Blair makes decisions would ensure that I would not join "new" labour. I value my freedom of speech to much to join the labour party and face censure every time I speak my mind under Blair's catch all clause of "bringing the party into disrepute", which is usually interpreted as speaking out against government policy.

I see US Democrats having a very good chance to change things in the primaries, and that is something that cannot be done with "new" labour. IMHO Blair's party cannot be reformed from within, therefore it must be destroyed from without and a genuine progressive party put in its place. I'd like to be proved wrong on this but I fear that Blair will carry on from one blatant whitewash to the next til he leads "new" labour to the wall.

[Spentastic]

5. Quid pro quo

Government will back off either foundation hospitals or tuition fees (more likely)

The fucking unions' hands are now covered in blood.