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UK, 77% Oppose Assualt Without UN
By Reuters
Sunday 12 January 2003
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to insist on Monday that he has a ``clear strategy'' for tackling Iraq amid growing unease within his own party and the public over the possibility of a war without U.N. backing.
A YouGov poll for the ITV network published on Monday showed that 53 percent of Britons would back a U.N.-sanctioned attack on Iraq but only 13 percent would support action by the U.S. and Britain alone.
The poll comes a day after International Development Secretary Clare Short said London should not join a unilateral U.S. attack on Iraq and that it was Britain's duty to restrain Washington.
In his monthly televised press conference later on Monday, Blair is expected to seek to calm unease by spelling out his belief in the United Nations disarmament process.
``Whether we look at Iraq or the fight against terrorism or tackling crime in the UK, the prime minister will set out that we have a clear strategy on these areas,'' a Downing Street spokeswoman told Reuters.
``It's important people remember that. He will restate that where we are on Iraq is the right thing to be doing.''
Britain, which dispatched its flagship aircraft carrier Ark Royal to the Gulf on Saturday ahead of naval exercises in the Far East, has backed President Bush's tough calls for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to disarm.
But Blair softened his rhetoric last week, saying the U.N. inspectors currently scouring Iraq for signs of weapons of mass destruction should be given time and space to do their job.
Short's comments took on added significance when sources said Blair would meet President Bush after a January 27 report by U.N. inspectors on Iraqi compliance with weapons searches.
British newspapers said the meeting could turn into a council of war if Baghdad failed to satisfy U.N. teams on questions about its arms progress.
``I think all the people of Britain have a duty to keep our country firmly on the U.N. route, so that we stop the U.S. maybe going to war too early, and keep the world united,'' Short, one of the most dovish member of Blair's Labor cabinet, told Britain's ITV network.
Blair and Bush are the chief prosecutors in the case against Iraq, saying they have intelligence that Baghdad possesses banned weapons and threatening war unless he comes clean.
But for many countries, particularly in the Muslim world, the jury is out until clear proof is produced that Baghdad has biological, chemical or nuclear weapons.
Blair's softened stance drew condemnation from the main opposition Conservative Party, with leader Iain Duncan Smith accusing him of ``wobbling'' and failing to convince Britons of the need for British involvement.
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BBC | UK 'Rejects' Lone Action Against Iraq
Sunday 12 January 2003
The UK would not join American unilateral military action against Iraq, according to International Development Secretary Clare Short.
Ms Short said the UK had a duty to try to keep the world united over the Iraq crisis and ensure the danger of Saddam Hussein was only tackled through the United Nations.
Other ministers have shied away from saying whether or not the UK would join America if it decided to act alone against Iraq.
With US troop build-up continuing in the Gulf, Labour Chairman John Reid has denied there is widespread disquiet about the handling of the Iraq crisis.
Two surveys in Sunday newspapers point to deep unease about the prospect of war among Labour activists.
Despite cold weather, a group of 30 peace campaigners went naked in East Sussex for their latest protest against any military action.
Short's concern
The Conservatives say Tony Blair is "wobbling" and failing to make the case for the UK joining possible military action because of Labour splits.
Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: "That worries me because the British people are still waiting to see what the case is for British involvement."
Mr Blair is reportedly to make a personal effort to win over Labour MPs sceptical of his stance over Iraq.
The prime minister's spokesman said last week UN weapons inspectors needed "time and space" to do their work in Iraq in what was seen as a reassurances to critics.
The sailing of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal for the Gulf has heightened speculation that the UK is preparing to help the US in military action against Iraq.
Ms Short, seen as one of the cabinet ministers more sceptical about possible war, told ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby programme she was "very, very worried" about the Iraq crisis.
"The role of the UK in this historic and dangerous time ... is to try to keep the US with the UN process, back up the authority of the UN and not depart from the UN process," she said.
Asked if that meant the UK would not join America if it acted alone against Iraq, she replied: "That is the logic of the position."
Ms Short also argued the US failure to do more to restart the Middle East peace process had bred distrust and anger in the region.
Suez warning
Earlier, senior Labour MP Clive Soley said there was a danger the UK could be a repeat of the Suez crisis, which caused the downfall of then Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden.
Mr Soley, ex-chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, told the Sunday Times: "There is a danger of getting into a conflict without the support of the country or Parliament."
Dr Reid told Sky News Labour opinions were similar to those of the wider public.
"There may be some on one extreme who want to go straight to military conflict," he said.
"There are others on the other extreme who don't want to use military means under any circumstances.
"But the broad thrust of the party, I think, recognises that Saddam Hussein is a major threat ...
"But they want to see that every possible means of diplomacy and pressure is used before the military option becomes necessary and to go through the UN route."
On Monday, Mr Blair is expected to use his monthly televised news conference to explain again his stance on Iraq.
On Wednesday, he will address a private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, something officials say he always does after the Christmas recess.
'Unnecessary rhetoric'
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said Mr Blair needed to be clearer about the circumstances in which the UK would go to war.
Mr Kennedy argued there should be no "unnecessary rhetoric" from London or Washington while UN inspectors continued their work.
The Independent on Sunday questioned 35 Labour Party officials from ministers' constituencies.
Only two of them were in favour of British support for an attack on Iraq without UN backing.
A Sunday Telegraph survey of 74 Labour Party constituency chairmen found 69% of them predicted war with Iraq would provoke resignations among local members.
The newspaper reports Mr Blair has been warned by three cabinet ministers - Tessa Jowell, Hilary Armstrong and Helen Liddell - that he must "sell" his military strategy on Iraq or face a rebellion by MPs.
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