Blair and Bush to plot war on Iraq
Kamal Ahmed, political editor
Sunday February 24, 2002
The Observer
Tony Blair and the United States President George Bush are to
hold a specially convened summit in April to finalise details of
military action to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
Blair will travel to Washington in six weeks' time in a clear signal
that Downing Street fully backs Bush's plans to launch a war
against Iraq if Saddam does not agree to deadlines to destroy
his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.
'The meeting will be to finalise Phase Two of the war against
terrorism,' a senior Number 10 official said. 'Action against Iraq
will be at the top of the agenda.'
With evidence growing of a Labour Party backlash over
American action against Saddam, the Government is now
planning to publish for the first time detailed evidence of Iraq's
nuclear capabilities. The document will reveal that Saddam is
attempting to amass rudimentary nuclear capabilities and is
also investigating a way to launch 'dirty' nuclear bombs -
unsophisticated devices which would nevertheless wreak havoc
if ever used.
Western intelligence services also believe Saddam is developing
biological and chemical devices which could kill and maim tens
of thousands of people.
The Number 10 official said that, as with Osama bin Laden and
the war in Afghanistan, it is necessary to maintain public and
international support for military action against Saddam.
It was a 'public persuasion' issue and would be tackled in the
same way as the unprecedented 'indictment' against bin Laden
published by Downing Street last year with the agreement of the
White House.
Bush has been under increasing attack from Europe over his
desire to see Saddam removed from power. His 'axis of evil'
speech earlier this year, when he named Iraq, Iran and North
Korea as international pariah states, has been attacked by both
the French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, and the European
Union commissioner for external affairs, Chris Patten. The
Foreign Office in particular is irritated by the bellicose language,
which officials said revealed that hawkish elements in
Washington had won over the President's mind.
But The Observer can reveal that Blair has told his inner circle
that he believes the attacks on the President are misplaced and
that it is only by the threat of action that reformist elements
within Iraq will be encouraged to rise up against Saddam.
In a series of long telephone conversation over the past two
months, Bush has kept Blair aware of his plans for military
action. Although there is no evidence of any link between Iraq
and the attacks of 11 September, both leaders will make it clear
that weapons of mass destruction are a legitimate target for
military action. 'The alliance with the United States is strong, it
will remain strong,' Blair said yesterday at a meeting of
European leaders in Stockholm.
'We will deal with issues together. The Americans are absolutely
right to emphasise the continuing importance of the war against
terrorism and continuing the elimination of weapons of mass
destruction.'
In an interview to be broadcast by the BBC's On the Record
programme today, US Assistant Secretary of State, Beth Jones,
admitted that 'nothing was off the table' when it came to Iraq.
'I think Americans aren't alone - there are many many people in
the world who want Saddam to no longer be in charge in Iraq,'
says Jones. 'There's no question about that. I think it's fair to
say that nothing is off the table.'
The April summit will significantly increase world tension on the
issue as Middle East nations watch warily for any signal that
Bush will act precipitately against Saddam.
Many Muslim leaders fear a leadership vacuum and political
chaos in Iraq, which could affect the standing of neighbouring
countries in the region.
It now seems likely that Saddam will be set a deadline to allow
in weapons inspectors who will oversee the destruction of Iraq's
weaponry or face military consequences.
The Prime Minister is aware of a growing revolt within his own
party and some elements of the British military against action in
Iraq.
Intelligence officials in Britain have told The Observer that there
is concern about over-committing in Iraq and of making military
promises that cannot be kept.
They have advised Number 10 that the only 'window' for action is
in the autumn and winter of this year, when the fierce heat in the
region abates slightly.
A poll of 100 backbench MPs by On the Record, to be released
today, reveals wide spread disquiet about the developments.
Asked if there was sufficient evidence to support an attack on
Iraq, 86 MPs said no, while only 12 agreed, and three said they
did not know.
Similar levels of opposition to Bush's 'axis of evil' speech were
also apparent.
Asked about his attitude to attacks on Iraq, former Defence
Minister Doug Henderson tells the programme: 'I think a lot of us
would have severe worries - one, that the action wouldn't be
successful, that Saddam wouldn't be toppled and it would be left
with an invasion force in Iraq; or secondly, that we'd alienate too
many of the other countries whose support we need to fight
terrorism internationally.'
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