Labour drops invite to Iraqi leader

[DoYouEverWonder]

Labour drops invite to Iraqi leader

August 19, 2004


Tony Blair has abandoned hopes of inviting Ayad Allawi, head of the interim Iraqi government, to address next month's Labour conference after strong warnings from across the party that the move would prove divisive.

Labour officials told the Guardian last night that Mr Allawi "has not been invited" to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, and last year President Hamid Kharzai of Afghanistan, in addressing the conference.

In doing so they averted the prospect of a damaging rift in the coming weeks as unions, MPs and activists opposed to the US-led occupation of Iraq threatened demonstrations and walkouts if Mr Allawi had become the designated guest speaker in Brighton - as No 10 had apparently suggested before the summer holidays.

The former foreign secretary, Robin Cook, was among senior party figures privately urging Mr Blair not to raise tensions over Iraq by inviting someone widely seen as a protegé of the CIA and M16.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,1286013,00.html


Looks like the poodle has done a classic flip-flop. I bet he learned that trick from his buddy W?

[Nambe]

1. Allawi is in way over his head.

Leaving the country would be inexcusable.

[jpgray]

2. Labour is pissed that Blair is shunning Kerry

As they should be.

[IndianaGreen]

3. If Kerry wins, it will be a slap in the face to Blair

because Blair has made his submissive role to Bush the cornerstone of his government.

Blair pissed away all of his talents and skills, which are considerable, by becoming a Bush puppet. What a waste!

[daleo]

4. It is best that Bush's poodle and puppet not be seen together, anyway

They might get jealous of each other, and start a hissy fit.