TRAITOR (Meet George Galloway, MP for Bagdad Central)

The Sun ^ | Apri 1, 2003 | The Sun

[Oldeconomybuyer]

MAVERICK Scots MP George Galloway has come under fire for branding Tony Blair and George Bush "wolves" for carrying out military action against Iraq.

The controversial Labour veteran, renowned for his anti-war views, appeared on Abu Dhabi TV to accuse them of lying to the armed forces about the length of the conflict and question why Arab countries were selling oil to the coalition forces.

Mr Galloway later defended his comments, insisting he was not a traitor and called on British soldiers fighting in the gulf to refuse to obey "illegal orders".

In his television interview, Mr Galloway said: "Even if it’s not realistic to ask a non-Iraqi army to come to defend Iraq, we see Arab regimes pumping oil for the countries who are attacking it.

"We wonder when the Arab leaders will wake up. When are they going to stand by the Iraqi people? Blair and Bush have lied to the British Air Force and Navy when they said the battle of Iraq would be very quick and easy. They attacked Iraq like wolves. They attacked civilians.

"It is better for Blair and Bush to stop this crime and this catastrophe. It is time for them to return to the UN Security Council and give diplomacy a chance."

Mr Galloway later rejected suggestions that his interview amounted to an act of treachery.

He said: "The people who have betrayed this country are those who have sold it to a foreign power and who have been the miserable surrogates of a bigger power for reasons very few people in Britain can understand.

"Given that I believe this invasion is illegal, the only people fighting legally are the Iraqis, who are defending their country. The best thing British troops can do is to refuse to obey illegal orders."

But Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said: "Are there no depths to which George Galloway will not sink? I’m sure such disgraceful comments will be rightly condemned the length and breadth of this country."

Meanwhile, Tony Blair was today expected to chair another meeting of his War Cabinet following an acknowledgement from a senior Cabinet colleague that the coalition powers were "seen as the villains".

Home Secretary David Blunkett predicted, however, that the perception would be short-lived - and that Iraqis would eventually welcome the chance to live in a liberated country.

He said: "We know that for the moment we’ll be seen as the villains. We knew that from the reaction before the conflict started.

"But once this is over and there is a free Iraq, with a democratic state, building the affluence that can come from an educated people with enterprise and capability, the population as a whole will say that we want a free country."

Meanwhile, a senior Tory urged Tony Blair today to kick Robin Cook out of his government flat immediately because of his opposition to the Gulf war.

Alan Duncan accused the Livingston MP of running his campaign opposing military action against Iraq from the "grace and favour" flat where he is staying at taxpayers expense.

But Mr Cook revealed that he will be out of the multi-million pound accommodation at 1 Carlton Gardens near Buckingham Palace within the next two weeks.

Mr Cook told the Evening News today: "I am getting out. I shall be leaving in the Easter recess. I shall be gone in two weeks."

[alnitak]

This man is a *!&(*"&( idiot, there simply is no other explanation.