Blair to meet Bush for Iraq talks (WAR STRATEGY TIME)

BBC News ^ | September 4, 2002 | BBC News

[MadIvan]

Downing Street has confirmed that UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to fly to America for talks with US President George Bush.

Mr Blair meets President Bush at his official Camp David retreat on Saturday when tackling the alleged threat posed by Iraq is certain to top the agenda.

Describing Iraq's Saddam Hussein as a serious threat, President Bush said: "I look forward to talking with Tony Blair about our mutual concern to make the world safer."

The UK prime minister on Wednesday again promised to produce a dossier of evidence against Iraq "in the next few weeks".

Dossier details

Visiting his Swedish counterpart in Stockholm, Mr Blair said the dossier would show why the United Nations was right to impose a weapons inspections regime on Iraq in the first place.

"That is material to do with chemical, biological, nuclear weapons of mass destruction and also on the nature of the regime," said Mr Blair.

The precise form of the dossier had yet to be decided, he said.

"It will be designed to show people why it is that adherence to those United Nations resolutions matters."

Gathering pace

Plans for the two leaders to meet were expected but their talks are to be held even sooner than expected.

Mr Blair's words at a special news conference on Tuesday and President Bush's message after facing questions from US congressional leaders on Wednesday have fuelled speculation about the prospect of military action.

The US president is to go to the UN next week, where he said he would "state clearly what I think".

"I will first remind the Unite Nations that for 11 long years Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, crawfished, wheedled out of any agreement he made not to develop weapons of mass destruction," he said.

"And so I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that he is stiffing the world."

'Persuasion needed'

Mr Blair has been warned his dossier of evidence against Iraq will have to be very convincing to stand any chance of limiting the unease about the prospect of military action.

Labour MP Bruce George, chairman of the Commons defence committee, said he hoped the promised dossier would be published in time for Labour's annual conference, in order to head off any potential unrest.

The TUC leadership is expected, at a meeting on Thursday, to welcome publication of the dossier - but will insist there must be no unilateral attack on Iraq and that the United Nations must be consulted.

[Constitution Day]

Glad to oblige!
I've had them bookmarked for a while, but just remembered them when watching the History Channel this weekend.

CD

[1Old Pro]

Mr Blair meets President Bush at his official Camp David retreat on Saturday

WOW, the time table is being met. tick tock, tick tock

[Constitution Day]

Gretchen,

I'm so glad that you enjoyed them.
This makes me want to read A History of the English-Speaking Peoples... have you ever read it?

CD

[Grampa Dave]

[colorado tanker]

"I've been regularly amazed by the PM; though I long for a Thatcherite for the sake of your islands, Blair has proven himself to be a genuine friend." I share your admiration for Lady Thatcher. But many, if not most, of Blair's policies strike me as Thatcherism with a smiley face. I think that's one reason why the Tories can't seem to get any traction right now.

[MadIvan]

Ivan it could get a little wild before this is all over with...do your fellow citizen's know and understand that Saddam could unleash a chem/bio/dirtybomb on both of us?

Hell, I live in London, my friend - and we've had our share of bombs from the likes of the IRA, and prior to that Hitler. They could in fact kill me - yes, I know they are putting my neck on the line with yours to hit Iraq. But it has to be done. Because if we don't meet him in war on our terms, eventually he'll meet us in war on his.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

What was it that Churchill said? We are one people separated by a common language...or something along those lines.

Dear old Winston was the Special Relationship writ large. Don't forget, his mother was an American. ;)

Regards, Ivan

[Argus]

D-Day for the liberation of Iraq is September 11, 2002.

[MJY1288]

"Because if we don't meet him in war on our terms, eventually he'll meet us in war on his."

Very wise words my friend, Now lets convince the rest of the world to join us in planting Saddam Hussain in the "Unmarked grave of discarded lies"

[texasbluebell]

Don't forget, his mother was an American. ;)

Yes, indeed, the beauteous Jennie Jerome of NY. He was proud to be half-American.

[texasbluebell]

It is so appropriate for Blair and Bush, as they discuss strategy just prior to Bush's address to America on September 20, 2001, to be standing under the portrait of John Adams, America's first Ambassador to Britain.

You're so right! I wonder if that could have been part of the photographer's "strategery". Or did W and Tony think of that? But very appropriate, as you say. ;>)

[texasbluebell]

WOW, the time table is being met. tick tock, tick tock

Tick tock...time is running out.

[jalisco555]

Thanks for the Churchill links. I recently read Martin Gilbert's book on World War I and learned a little known fact about Churchill. When he resigned as First Lord of the Admiralty after Gallipoli Churchill did not go home to sulk like so many out of favor pols. Instead he joined the army and commanded an infantry battalion on the Western Front, seeing considerable action and at great personal risk. Truly the Man of the Century.

[Smile-n-Win]

Great links!

[Constitution Day]

I knew people would love those.

Churchill was indeed the "Man of the Century", and a true Renaissance man to boot.

FRegards,
CD

[Constitution Day]

Thanks.

[rs79bm]

[MadIvan]

Excellent picture. My thanks. Interesting how the two flags seem right hanging side by side.

Regards, Ivan

[MonroeDNA]

"Hell, I live in London, my friend - and we've had our share of bombs from the likes of the IRA, and prior to that Hitler. They could in fact kill me - yes, I know they are putting my neck on the line with yours to hit Iraq. But it has to be done. Because if we don't meet him in war on our terms, eventually he'll meet us in war on his.

You make me proud to speak English.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

By the way, what's the TUC?

The Unwashed and Clueless. Lot of Frenchmen in that organization.