Withdraw troops from Iraq: London Mayor

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1451960,00050003.htm

Withdraw troops from Iraq: London Mayor

London Mayor Ken Livingstone on Thursday asked the British Government to withdraw troops from Iraq to prevent further terrorist attacks against the country.

"The London bombings demand clear thinking, not rhetoric. People's lives depend on the decisions made. These must be for every community to aid the police; to treat Britain's Muslim community with respect... And for Britain to withdraw from Iraq," Livingstone wrote in The Guardian daily four weeks after the bombing which killed 56 people in three underground trains and a bus.

"If the invasion of Iraq had been justified, it would be possible to argue that we must bear the sacrifices necessary to achieve an outcome. However, it is evident that the war in Iraq was not justified, the Mayor, who had vociferously opposed the March 2003 US-led invasion, said adding the invasion "had made the situation worse".

"The reason the US is not able to stabilise Iraq is related to the same critical issue that affects policing in Britain: information," he added.

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[phusion]

1. I like this guy...

Why doesn't he run for PM?

[Beaver Tail]

2. With the way Parliamentary systems work

I doubt they would let him get the chance.

[Taxloss]

3. The UK electoral system doesn't work like that.

PMs are party leaders - the party with the most constituencies becomes the government (there are about 650 constituencies), and the leader of that party becomes PM. It as though one of your congressmen was leader of the Democratic party and another was leader of the Republican party, and the leader of whichever party has more votes in Congress becomes President automatically.

So every four or five years we vote. But we only vote for our local member of parliament - not for a president or PM. The Queen is our "head of state" in terms of forming and disbanding governments (in theory) - In practice we vote for parties and members, not PMs.

[phusion]

4. Thanks...

I knew it was different but never knew specifics...

:toast:

[klyon]

5. so is it possible Blair could be removed by his party?

Or likely?

KL