August 01, 2005
More Insight Into Blair's Decision to Help U.S. Invade Iraq
Robert Winnett, the Whitehall Correspondent for The Times of London, reported July 31, 2005 that, "The split over the Iraq war, which ran through the Labour party, reached into Tony Blair's innermost circle, according to an updated biography of the prime minister."
The Winnett article is quite revealing and touches on efforts by the Blair Government to keep certain insiders from revealing what transpired in the inner circle leading up to the war.
See "Key No 10 aides were split over war" for more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 02:05 AM | Comments (0)
July 27, 2005
Blair: 'We Will Leave Iraq As Soon As Possible'
Here we go again. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said July 27, 2005 that Britain wants to hand over military control in Iraq as soon as Iraqi forces are capable of handling security. According to the July 28, 2005 Daily Telegraph Online, Mr Blair "said at a press conference at No 10 following talks with Jose Luis Zapatero, the Spanish prime minister": It is the position of Britain, of America, of everybody, that as the Iraqi force capability builds, so the necessity for our support there diminishes. That is not a new announcement. That is the political strategy.
Well, Tony, when will they be capable of handling it? Pull out now, and let the chips fall where they may.
"It's important to keep emphasising that so people in Iraq and the Arab world don't think it's our strategic objective to remain. It is not.
Mr. Blair was responding to a statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari who on July 27, 2005 called for a swift withdrawal of U.S. occupation froces from Iraq.
See "Blair pledge to get forces out as soon as possible."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
British Leaders: Scale of Iraq Insurgency Unforeseen
Richard Norton-Taylor of The Guardian reported July 28, 2005 that the government of British Prime Minister Tony Blair "admitted yesterday [July 27, 2005] that it had failed to foresee the scale of potential insurgency in Iraq and that the invasion had left a "strategic vacuum" in the country."
I find this admission incredible. Why would supposedly sophisticated war planners in the U.S. and Britain not take it for granted that many Iraqis would resist invaders and occupiers? I would think that an invasion planner, whether its Saddam Hussein invading Kuwait or the U.S. and Britain invading Iraq, would work from the premise that a resistance movement will develop once the target nation was invaded. It should be taken for granted that the resistance would attract supporters and allies. Any student of resistance movements know that, even those who won't fight will often support those who will. Very few people want to be ruled by foreigners no matter how ruthless their leader is.
Could it be that arrogance made U.S President George W. Bush and Mr. Blair think they could just waltz into Iraq and do as they pleased?
For more, see "Scale of Iraq insurgency unforeseen, says MoD."
Posted by Munir Umrani at 08:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 26, 2005
Why Mr. Blair Nearly Lost His Temper
In its report on a July 26, 2005 press briefing by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, The Guardian reported that "Sky News' political editor said "more Iraqi civilians have been killed by U.S. and British armed forces than terrorists in Iraq." Mr Blair says:
"I don't accept that. It's complete nonsense to build some equivalence between what we're doing to bring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan and what these people are doing.
"And there's no justification for suicide bombing in Israel either - let's just get that out of the way".
"Mr Blair has very nearly lost his temper," The Guardian said.
What about suicide bombings in Iraq, Tony? There were none there before the U.S.-British invasion. Don't the Iraqis count?
Posted by Munir Umrani at 07:24 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Blair: 'They Will Use Iraq To Try To Recruit'
Matthew Tempest, political correspondent for The Guardian has interesting excerpts from a July 26, 2005 press briefing by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Reporters hammered Mr. Blair on what some observers say is a link between recent bombings in London and Britain riding shotgun for the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan. In response to a question from the BBC's James Landale, Mr. Blair said:
I haven't said 'it's nothing to do with Iraq'. They will use Iraq and Afghanistan to try and recruit, but most people understand the roots of this go far deeper - and in any event, where does this argument take us in the end?See "Live: Tony Blair's press briefing" for excerpts.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 06:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 25, 2005
Peter Riddel: 'Tony Blair's Rating As a Leader Has Soared"
Peter Riddel of The Times Online writes that, British Prime Minister Tony Blair's "rating as a leader has soared, even though a big majority of voters believe that his decision to go to war in Iraq has increased the risk of terrorist attacks such as the ones in London this month." Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 11:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 24, 2005
New Poll: Majority Of Londoners Believe Bombings Linked To Iraq
The Daily Mail Online of Britiain reported July 24, 2005 that, "The overwhelming majority of the public believe that the London bombings were, at least in part, due to Britain's involvement in the Iraq war, according to a new opinion poll."
The publication said, "The YouGov survey for the Daily Mirror and GMTV found that 23% thought the war was the main cause of the attacks, while another 62% thought it was a contributory factor. Only 12% said they thought that it was not a significant cause." Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 05:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 19, 2005
Alleged British War Criminals Won't Be Tried In The Hague
The three British soldiers charged July 19, 2005 "with the war crime of inhuman treatment of prisoners in Iraq" will "not be tried at the International Criminal Court in the Hague but under martial law in Britain," The Times of London reports. It cited Lord Goldsmith, the British Attorney-General, as its authority.
The Times said "Another eight [soldiers], including a highly decorated regimental colonel, are facing court martial over the deaths of two civilians" in Iraq. Here's more.
Posted by Munir Umrani at 09:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
