Government is letting down Britain in Iraq, says Howard

[IndianaGreen]

Civilisation and democracy worldwide were being jeopardised by the fighting in Iraq.

-- Tony Blair

Government is letting down Britain in Iraq, says Howard
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent
12 April 2004

Tony Blair was accused by the Tories yesterday of failing Britain in the Iraq crisis by allowing America a free hand in running the increasingly lawless country.

With coalition forces stretched on several fronts by growing violence, the Prime Minister delivered an impassioned warning that civilisation and democracy worldwide were being jeopardised by the fighting in Iraq. And Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, left open the door to dispatching extra soldiers to reinforce the 8,500 guarding the city of Basra.

Michael Howard, the Tory leader, increased the pressure on Mr Blair five days before his crisis meeting at the White House on Iraq, by claiming he was letting the Americans call the shots in Baghdad.

Although he backed Mr Blair's refusal to pull troops out of Iraq, he attacked the decision to replace Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the Prime Minister's special envoy to the country, with a "relatively junior diplomat". He said a senior statesman, such as Lord Robertson, the former Nato secretary general, should be appointed and made deputy to Paul Bremer, the US administrator in Iraq.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=510740

[JoFerret]

1. Michael Howard is a dangerous politician

This is what Blair has brought the UK - the chance for a tory to sound sane(ish).

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. I doubt that the Tories will win the next election.

England did not want this war so why would they vote for a chicken hawk like Howard?

[IndianaGreen]

3. ABB

Anybody But Blair!

[GainesT1958]

5. Hey, let's NOT subject our British friends...

To a renewal of Thatcherism...that would be kind of like Dub getting in and his even-worse, road-company production of Reaganomics!:puke:

Tories(pretty much)= Repubs.

I disagree like hell with Tony BLair on Iraq, but his domestic policies are (mostly) right down my alley--and ours, as well.

B-)

[SquireJons]

4. Beware the voter backlash.

The same wave that could clear the shrubs from our back yard, can also wash Blair out to sea, and bring back the Torrie's. Personally, I'd take the trade off. After a good start, Blair has turned out to be pretty useless.