Blair 'must admit Iraq war error'

[radfringe]

Blair 'must admit Iraq war error'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3425529.stm
The prime minister must admit that the Iraq war was a mistake, former foreign secretary Robin Cook has demanded.
Last Updated: Saturday, 24 January, 2004, 10:17 GMT

His comments came after US official David Kay quit as head of the organisation searching for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Mr Cook told the BBC he believed Mr Blair had wanted to show US President George Bush he was a reliable ally and was driven by "missionary zeal".

---snip---

He added: "We have got to drop this very dangerous doctrine under which we went to war of the pre-emptive strike.

"If there was no threat from Iraq we obviously had no right to carry out a pre-emptive strike to remove that threat. And we better drop that doctrine before somebody else in the world uses it in their own back yard."

Mr Cook continued: "I have always believed that the difficulty was not that Tony was behaving in a way which was deceiving the world. He was behaving in a way which had a missionary zeal, an evangelical certainty...

"The reality of course is that Number 10 was keen to get into the war, not frankly because they were particularly concerned about WMD - I suspect by March they also knew that the September document had over-egged the case - they were keen to get in to impress President Bush that they were a reliable ally.

[Benhurst]

1. It's time for Labour to flush the revolting little turd. n/t

:hurts:

[saigon68]

2. Poodle doesn't realize it, but his master is looking for new Pet.

The Poodle is going to be replaced soon.

The next set of elections in Spain and Great Britain are going to shake up the BFEE.

They will start looking for a new LAP DOG MINIATURE POODLE soon.

[non sociopath skin]

3. When Labour was elected ...

... Robin Cook was genuine about wanting an ethical foreign policy.

It must be gut-churning for him to see what Tory Blair has done.

The Skin

[BeatleBoot]

4. He'll do it only if

"C Plus Augustus" tells him to...

[Gman]

5. And not a peep out of the US media about this

not one.

[Holly]

6. A question for British Duers

If Blair actually chose to make the Honorable decision and step down, who would be in the running to take over the leadership. Robin Cook seems to be a man of integrity, is he up to the top job? Or are only Bush/Blair apologists likely candidates?

[brook]

7. Another question for British Duers...

I read a headline in the Independent yesterday asserting that Cherie Blair does not like * and tried to dissuade Tony from his Poodleship. I believe it said that this information was in a biography of Tony that's about to be published. Can you shed any light on this?

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. See this General Discussion thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1051028

The Times story is UK only (or subscription from overseas), unfortunately, but the thread gives a good summary. Interestingly, it says that as well as Cherie having a go as Dubya about capital punishment, it says that Laura's abortion views are more moderate than Junior's.

[legin]

8. If blair quits

It's probably Gordon Brown who will take over, and I'm not sure there will be that much difference in policy. He has a big suck up to u.s. corporations meeting coming up soon ('improving the culture of entreprenheurship in britain').

[legin]

10. I'm starting to get the idea

that it may be a Conservative government after the next election too. A recent poll in admitedly the Telegraph shows the Consevatives starting to open up a little gap on Labour. The change of leadership seems to have been a winning idea for the Conservatives, this might cause Labour to dump blair a bit quicker in reply perhaps.

[legin]

12. 40pc: Tories hit 11-year high

The Conservatives have broken the electoral jinx that has dogged them since Black Wednesday more than 11 years ago. A YouGov poll for The Telegraph today gives the Tories the support of 40 per cent of voters for the first time since the party's standing collapsed when the pound was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

Three months after Michael Howard took over from Iain Duncan Smith, the Tories have opened up a five-point lead over Labour. The poll puts Labour on 35 per cent and the Liberal Democrats on 19.

<<snip>>

With the next general election probably less than 18 months away, Mr Howard has re-established the Conservatives as a serious political force and seen off the Liberal Democrats, who had claimed that they would replace the Tories as the main opposition party.

<<snip>>

To be certain of winning power, the Conservatives need to secure at least 42 per cent of the vote - around 10 points better than their performances at the last two elections - and to establish a clear and consistent lead over Labour.

Labour's support has fallen from 38 per cent since just before Christmas - after the capture of Saddam Hussein - to 35 per cent now. There has been no material change in the Liberal Democrats' fortunes since the last election.

<<snip>>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F01%2F23%2Fnpoll23.xml&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=10326

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. The polls are still unclear

The YouGov one is done via the Internet, not telephone, so it may have a bias towards the better off.

"However, two other polls this week showed Labour still ahead. Mori put Mr Blair's party ahead by two per cent and ICM gave them a five-point advantage."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/8785416?source=Evening%20Standard

[legin]

20. Very true muriel_volestrangler

It's just that I have this horrible feeling that the perception of the Conservatives have moved from being a 'dead duck' party to a viable contender.

However it's a personel impression and it may be just temporary.

[T_i_B]

21. "Are only Bush/Blair apologists likely candidates?"

Yes. The main candidate tio take over would be Gordon Brown, who is very similar ideologically to Blair.

The tories have no chance of getting back in at the next election. The reason? Well to be frank they stand very little chance of overturning Blair's 180 seat landslide majority. "new" labour is in an unassailable electoral position and that in many ways is part of the problem.

[osaMABUSh]

9. If Blair quits how does it affect Bush?

One would think it certainly couldn't help. How could Rove spin that one?

[salin]

17. I would venture to guess - that a Tory govt would benefit

Bush even more. Very tricky business for Labour, it seems - with Blair in an increasingly rigid box/corner.

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Error??

Whatever the reasons the Poodle aligned himself with the Chimp, it was by INTENT! Thousands dead, indifference exhibited in regard to cannon fodder, blatent demonization of other nations...it was not an error. It was greed, status-seeking and done with intent. :grr:

[Holly]

13. A very good point

Intent is the crux of the matter. This was not an error. Blair's intent to wage war, for the purpose of aligning himself with Bush, and prove his loyalty, is a criminal act, not an error in judgment. Since he intended, no matter what to proceed, he can never claim an error in the material facts... WMD. He was fully aware of what he was doing, and his crime was premeditated. Cold, callous and calculating, he sickens me.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. "...a missionary zeal, an evangelical certainty..."

Bells are ringing everywhere.

[jonoboy]

15. taking a bit longer than 45 mins eh, Tory Tony

[Solly Mack]

16. Who in their right mind wants to impress Bush? about anything?

Blair needed Bush' approval? That's pathetic.

Hey, you only attempt to impress those whose good opinion you seek..and for their approval.