Who is Blair kidding...I mean, these guys have no shame. At least have the balls to say it like it is. Nobody is fooled by this flimflam anymore.
Al
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Blair: How Crisis Ends Is Up to Saddam
1 hour, 43 minutes ago
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO, Associated Press Writer
ROME - British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) insisted Friday he still hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Iraq crisis but said Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s actions will determine the outcome.
Blair's comments came after he met at a Renaissance palace in Rome with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who like Blair faces widespread public opposition to his pro-U.S. stance on Iraq.
"We both want to see the situation of Iraq and weapons of mass destruction resolved before the United Nations (news - web sites)," the British leader said. "Even now at this juncture, we hope this can be resolved peacefully and without conflict."
"In the end, I can't avoid (war) unless Saddam chooses the route of peaceful disarmament. He knows what he has to do, and he has the capability to do it. But does he have the will?"
Blair was to meet Saturday with Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II, who has been outspoken in his opposition to military action against Baghdad. British and Church officials have said Blair's visit to the Vatican (news - web sites) will be private.
"I obviously know the views of the pope very well and they're very clear," Blair said. "Let me make one thing plain: We do not want war, no one wants war."
Britain is working with the United States to introduce a U.N. resolution that would pave the way for military action and give Iraq a final few weeks to fully cooperate with weapons inspectors. The resolution is expected to be circulated later this week or early next week, U.S. and British officials said in New York.
Berlusconi has said a U.S.-led war in Iraq should have the backing of a U.N. resolution authorizing military force.
Britain has been the only U.S. ally to provide substantial military support for Washington, sending 40,000 troops to the Gulf to back U.S. forces.
Italy has made clear it would not contribute troops to any war, saying its military is already stretched thin because of peacekeeping commitments from Afghanistan (news - web sites) to the Balkans. But it has offered logistical help, such as use of military bases, ports, highways and other infrastructure. Italy has also agreed to allow U.S. fighter planes to use Italian airspace, based on previous agreements.
The pope has said a war against Iraq would be a "defeat for humanity," while the leaders of the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church of England and Wales said this week they had deep doubts about the moral legitimacy of a war.
On Saturday, anti-war protests took place in cities around the world, with London and Rome drawing some of the largest crowds. |
