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The White House memo - Bush and Blair discussed US Spyplane in UN colours to lure Saddam into war
channel4.com ^ | February 2, 2005 | Gary Gibbon

Posted on 02/02/2006 1:06:52 PM PST by HAL9000

Revealed: Bush and Blair discussed using American Spyplane in UN colours to lure Saddam into war.

Channel 4 News tonight reveals extraordinary details of George Bush and Tony Blair's pre-war meeting in January 2003 at which they discussed plans to begin military action on March 10th 2003, irrespective of whether the United Nations had passed a new resolution authorising the use of force.

Channel 4 News has seen minutes from that meeting, which took place in the White House on 31 January 2003. The two leaders discussed the possibility of securing further UN support, but President Bush made it clear that he had already decided to go to war. The details are contained in a new version of the book 'Lawless World' written by a leading British human rights lawyer, Philippe Sands QC.

President Bush said that:

"The US would put its full weight behind efforts to get another resolution and would 'twist arms' and 'even threaten'. But he had to say that if ultimately we failed, military action would follow anyway.''

Prime Minister Blair responded that he was: "solidly with the President and ready to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam."

But Mr Blair said that: "a second Security Council resolution would provide an insurance policy against the unexpected, and international cover, including with the Arabs."

Mr Sands' book says that the meeting focused on the need to identify evidence that Saddam had committed a material breach of his obligations under the existing UN Resolution 1441. There was concern that insufficient evidence had been unearthed by the UN inspection team, led by Dr Hans Blix. Other options were considered.

President Bush said: "The US was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours. If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach."

He went on: "It was also possible that a defector could be brought out who would give a public presentation about Saddams WMD, and there was also a small possibility that Saddam would be assassinated."

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Mr Sands said:

"I think no one would be surprised at the idea that the use of spy-planes to review what is going on would be considered. What is surprising is the idea that they would be used painted in the colours of the United Nations in order to provoke an attack which could then be used to justify material breach. Now that plainly looks as if it is deception, and it raises some fundamental questions of legality, both in terms of domestic law and international law."

Also present at the meeting were President Bush's National Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice and her deputy Dan Fried, and the Presidents Chief of Staff, Andrew Card. The Prime Minister took with him his then security adviser Sir David Manning, his Foreign Policy aide Matthew Rycroft, and and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell.

Those present, as documented in Mr Sands' book, also discussed what might happen in Iraq after liberation.

President Bush said that he: "thought it unlikely that there would be internecine warfare between the different religious and ethnic groups."



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: blair; iraq; securitycouncil; un; unsc
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1 posted on 02/02/2006 1:06:55 PM PST by HAL9000
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To: HAL9000

Where's that "Not this shit again" graphic?


2 posted on 02/02/2006 1:07:39 PM PST by rarestia ("One man with a gun can control 100 without one." - Lenin / Molwn Labe!)
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To: HAL9000
Channel 4 News has seen minutes from that meeting, which took place in the White House on 31 January 2003.

Courtesy of Kinkos in Texas no doubt...

3 posted on 02/02/2006 1:08:47 PM PST by frogjerk (LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
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To: HAL9000

Where do they keep digging this stuff up from?


4 posted on 02/02/2006 1:09:34 PM PST by mlc9852
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To: mlc9852
Where do they keep digging this stuff up from?

The details are contained in a new version of the book 'Lawless World' written by a leading British human rights lawyer, Philippe Sands QC.

5 posted on 02/02/2006 1:10:18 PM PST by frogjerk (LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
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To: HAL9000

The UN doesn't have a copyright on the color blue.

Which is, by the way, the color of the sky!


6 posted on 02/02/2006 1:10:40 PM PST by airborne
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To: frogjerk

Where's Brokaw?

Fake but Accurate!


7 posted on 02/02/2006 1:11:38 PM PST by Samurai_Jack (ride out and confront the evil!)
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To: HAL9000

This article is blogged in The Guardian's "News blog" which features open comments (no registration required). I have already freeped it, and I suggest everyone else do the same:

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2006/02/02/the_white_house_meeting_that_took_us_to_war.html



8 posted on 02/02/2006 1:11:42 PM PST by Parmenio
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To: HAL9000

Well...this ought to entertain the DUmmies for a little while and then when nothing comes of it, they'll sport their usual crest-fallen face and then mumble about conspiricies and stolen elections...really a cycle that just keeps repeating itself...


9 posted on 02/02/2006 1:12:18 PM PST by MrBlueSky2005
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To: mlc9852

More like, why do they keep MAKING this stuff up.


10 posted on 02/02/2006 1:12:23 PM PST by saganite (The poster formerly known as Arkie 2)
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To: HAL9000
The details are contained in a new version of the book 'Lawless World' written by a leading British human rights lawyer, Philippe Sands QC.

The newest title in the Oprah "Fake but Accurate" book club...

11 posted on 02/02/2006 1:12:54 PM PST by frogjerk (LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
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To: mlc9852
Where do they keep digging this stuff up from?

"You Rang?"

12 posted on 02/02/2006 1:14:35 PM PST by Itzlzha ("The avalanche has already started...it is too late for the pebbles to vote")
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To: rarestia
Image hosting by Photobucket
13 posted on 02/02/2006 1:15:47 PM PST by BreitbartSentMe (Ex-Democrat since 2001 *Folding@Home for the Gipper - Ask me about FReeper Folders*)
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To: HAL9000

Is there such a thing as "UN support" anyway? Isn`t that an oxymoron? I know they support eating money and support giving France a stage to make pretend it is important, but what else?


14 posted on 02/02/2006 1:17:33 PM PST by Screamname (Tagline)
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To: saganite

I believe it's true that Bush and Blair were prepared to act against Saddam regardless of UN opinion. They decided correctly.


15 posted on 02/02/2006 1:18:08 PM PST by HAL9000 (Get a Mac - The Ultimate FReeping Machine)
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To: HAL9000

A powder blue SR-71 would be interesting.


16 posted on 02/02/2006 1:19:15 PM PST by dc27
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To: HAL9000

Sweeps week again?


17 posted on 02/02/2006 1:19:15 PM PST by McGruff
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To: HAL9000

Even Sodomy would have known the only spy planes the UN has are powered by rubber bands and have balsawood wings.


18 posted on 02/02/2006 1:20:47 PM PST by One Proud Dad
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To: HAL9000

Wait, I don't recall the second two being "news"? Oh well..... they are non the less - TRUE.

19 posted on 02/02/2006 1:20:52 PM PST by Condor51 (Better to fight for something than live for nothing - Gen. George S. Patton)
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To: rarestia
Image hosting by TinyPic

20 posted on 02/02/2006 1:22:56 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam Factoid:After forcing young girls to watch his men execute their fathers, Muhammad raped them.)
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