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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (81395)	3/11/2003 11:28:02 PM
From: paul_philp	Respond to of 281500

Labour plotters take first steps to oust Blair By Toby Helm and George Jones (Filed: 12/03/2003) dailytelegraph.co.uk Labour opponents of war with Iraq took the first steps last night towards launching a leadership challenge if Tony Blair commits British troops to American-led military action without the explicit authority of the United Nations. Under pressure: Blair Left-wing MPs will call on the party's ruling National Executive Committee to hold a "special conference" that could trigger a leadership contest if the Prime Minister defies growing pressure in the party not to ignore a UN veto on the use of force. The anti-war sentiment in the Labour Party took a dangerous turn when MPs began talking openly of the possibility of moves to replace Mr Blair. At present they represent a small but vocal minority and there is no sign yet of widespread support for challenging the Prime Minister.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (81395)	3/11/2003 11:32:15 PM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

>>Boy, was Dick Cheney right. In spades.<< Yes. But. Being threatened by Libya as the final arbiter of human rights, Libya, sponsor of Lockerbie! And being threatened by Iraq as the final arbiter of disarmament! There is something so cynical, so depraved, about the status quo that I wouldn't have missed seeing it for the world. No reason to imagine monsters, or to seek to describe them to incredulous ears, when they actually walk the earth Too amusing, my dear.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (81395)	3/11/2003 11:58:57 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

My conclusion? Boy, was Dick Cheney right. In spades. I wonder what Colin Powell's private view of the matter is now? Powell will never try this approach again, that's for sure! Hindsight shows that we should have gone in last fall without going to the UN. But that's water under the dam. What is going on now is an attempt to keep Britain in. But we are going to liberate Iraq. Let no one doubt that.

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (81395)	3/12/2003 12:10:25 AM
From: paul_philp	Read Replies (5) \| Respond to of 281500

It's late. I'm tired and feeling down but I am losing confidence in Bush very quickly. If he loses Blair, far from clear, he will lose my support. - Getting blind sided by France was a screw up. - Turkey was a fiasco. - Now, if Bush can't provide Blair enough political cover, it will be the mother of all screw ups. People love a winner and join, people hate a loser and quit. If Bush loses Blair, he will lose more support quickly. Steyn is right that the French were venile. Sullivan is right that Bush has an ambitious plan that naturally develops resistance. But ... He is POTUS. His job is to deliver and he is not delivering. He got outfoxed by France at the UN. That does not give me great confidence that he can handle the Kurds, Suuni and Shia in Iraq along with their friends in Turkey and Iran. I still remember cringing in pain when I read that first Condi Rice op-ed. This is the communication strategy? I knew it was horrible then and it has not gotten better yet. Bush is on the right side of the angels and France isn't even being serious. Bush should have them in a box but instead they have Tony Blair on the ropes. 90% of the game ahead is a diplomacy game and Bush needs to learn how to play that game well NOW. School is over. Time to deliver. He needs to turn momentum around before he attacks or the divide at home will be intolerable. Bush delivered a masteful speech at the UN on Sept 12. He needs to pull a rabbit out of the hat now. The Islamists are laughing. The UN playing Bush like a puppet. The people protesting in the street against their president and (from their perspective) support for Saddam. It just proves OBL's point that the West has no moral backbone. A decisive victory in Iraq is the right result to deliver but if he loses Blair, I fear that the psychological gain from that will be minimal. Time for Bush to Stand and Deliver. It is unaccetable to lose Blair and it will not stand. This is what I want to see from him. Until then the whingers and whiners about France being mean can wrap it in Pampers and throw it out. France is winning right now and that is not accetable. Paul