With you at the first, with you to the last.
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 09/11/2002 12:54:47 AM PDT by MadIvan
Tony Blair has told the TUC conference Saddam Hussein is a threat "that has to be dealt with".
In hard-hitting speech which focused on Iraq, the Prime Minister told unions action would be taken against Iraq if diplomacy failed.
But he stressed it would be through UN backing - and Parliament would be consulted prior to any strike.
'World's worst regime'
Last year Mr Blair was about to step on stage at the TUC to deliver his annual address when two planes hit the World Trade Centre.
Describing Saddam as running the "world's worst regime", Mr Blair said: "Let it be clear that there can be no more conditions, no more games, no more prevaricating, no more undermining of the UN's authority.
"And let it be clear that should the will of the UN be ignored, action will follow."
Blair here is using the cover of the United Nations so that the Trade Unions and leftists have a more difficult time arguing with him. Clever. - Ivan
War a 'certainty'
The Prime Minister went on to say that violence would definitely flare up in the region at some point in the future - and he did not want it on his conscience.
"Because I say to you in all earnestness: if we do not deal with the threat from this international outlaw and his barbaric regime, it may not erupt and engulf us this month or next, perhaps not even this year or the next.
"But it will at some point.
"And I do not want it on my conscience that we knew the threat, saw it coming and did nothing."
Remarkably well done. - Ivan
'Brutal'
The Prime Minister said if he had warned the conference of the threat of Osama bin Laden on September 10, he would have been ignored.
"With the Taliban gone, Saddam is unrivalled as the world's worst regime: brutal, dictatorial, with a wretched human rights record," he said.
"Given that history, I say to you: to allow him to use the weapons he has or get the weapons he wants would be an act of gross irresponsibility and we should not countenance it."
Opposition
But delegates at the conference in Blackpool have already made it plain they believe there is no public support for a war with Iraq.
Hardline union members have made it clear they do not support a strike on Iraq.
Mr Blair received a mixed response from delegates with only a few heckles.
On Monday they warned that tens of thousands of innocent people could die if a war was engaged.
A hardline motion opposing a military attack was narrowly defeated, but Mr Blair was left in no doubt about the strength of feeling against a war.
With you at the first, with you to the last.
Regards, Ivan
Good to hear .. Thanks
Britain and Australia are. That should be sufficient.
Regards, Ivan
It is sufficient.
Thanks, Ivan.
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