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Straw takes war to the French in vitriolic United Nations tirade
The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 8, 2003 | Marcus Warren and Robin Gedye

Posted on 03/07/2003 5:45:49 PM PST by MadIvan

So often the grey man of British diplomacy, Jack Straw last night let rip at the French foreign minister in front of a shocked UN Security Council, calling on the international community to enforce the disarmament of Iraq "on its own terms".

In what one admiring American delegate referred to as a "diplomatic call to arms", Mr Straw spelled out in the clearest terms that time had effectively run out for Saddam Hussein, his lies and his prevarications.

He launched an impassioned tirade at Dominique de Villepin and France's policy on Iraq in an outburst that marked a new extreme of rhetoric in the row over how to deal with Saddam.

Staring M de Villepin in the eye and packing his speech with liberal references to "Dominique", Mr Straw directed what turned into an ad hominem assault on his French counterpart.

Mr Straw heaped scorn on the logic of countries - especially France - that are set on giving Iraq more time. "Dominique, you said that the choice before us was disarmament by peace or disarmament by war," Mr Straw said. "Dominique, that's a false choice."

M de Villepin, by far the most charismatic spokesman for the anti-war camp, had no option but to sit through his reprimand. But the expression on his face - and its colour - betrayed rage at his treatment.

The ambush - the French, like everyone else in the room, had no idea what was coming - was the most heated public spat between a senior British and French official in recent times.

It was all the more unexpected because, as Foreign Secretary, Mr Straw has earned a reputation as one of the most colourless, if solid, performers on the world stage.

Whether by accident or design, Mr Straw deployed two English borrowings from French to tear into his opponent. He attacked the concept of "automaticité", the notion that voting for UN resolutions against Iraq automatically triggered war, which was a "canard", he thundered.

Giving the UN chamber a taste of the invective and emotion normally confined to the Dispatch Box in the Commons, Mr Straw also laid into M de Villepin over his underplaying of the role of US and British troops in the Gulf.

The presence of "young men willing to put their lives on the line for this body, the UN", was the key factor in compelling Saddam to make concessions, not diplomacy, he said.

The passion of his argument over the impact of the military threat as opposed to diplomatic pressure appeared to put Mr Straw off his stride. "Dominique, with respect to you, my good friend, I think it's the other way round. I really do.

"The strong outside pressure is, and let's be blunt about this, the presence of over 200,000 US and UK young men and young women willing to put their lives on the line for the sake of this body the United Nations."

Mr Straw continued: "There is only one possible, sensible conclusion that we can draw. We have to increase the pressure on Saddam Hussein. We have to put this man to the test.

"The Iraqis have the answer already - it may take time to fabricate further falsehoods, but the truth takes only seconds to tell."

He said Britain, the United States and Spain were tabling an amended resolution giving Saddam 10 more days to disarm peacefully and warned fellow foreign ministers on the council that if Iraq did not comply, action must follow.

"The council must send Iraq a clear message that we will resolve this crisis on the United Nations' terms, the terms which the council established a month ago when we unanimously adopted resolution 1441."

Gesticulating to emphasise his points and straining to keep the reading of his notes to a minimum while making eye contact with those seated around him, Mr Straw demanded that the council must not retreat from its demands set out in 1441.

"What we need is an irreversible and strategic decision by Iraq to disarm, to yield to the inspectors all of its weapons of mass destruction and all relevant information which it could and should have provided at any time in the last 12 years."

The international community had a duty to remember that the only reason that Saddam had changed in recent weeks and furnished inspectors with more information "was for one thing only - the pressure on the regime. Strong outside pressure."

The only way to achieve disarmament "is by backing our diplomacy with a credible display of force".

"We have to increase the pressure and put this man to the test," he said of Saddam in a pointed attempt to heighten the impact of his words by demonstrating that Britain felt it was dealing with a recognisable figure rather than a faceless regime.

"He can act with astonishing speed when he wants", by handing over thousands of pages of documents within days when the pressure builds on him.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: blair; bush; chirac; devillepin; france; iraq; saddam; straw; uk; us; warlist
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To: UncleSamUSA
LOL.

Villepe-Whatever looked pissed off like he'd swallowed a handul of rambunctious maggots. They were still going at it in his 'ol gut but he was afraid to stand less'n 'ol Jack Straw might knock him on his ass. That was one mad hombre, that Brit. Then Ville-babe skinned-ass while the rest of the speeches were given to powder his nose and call his mommy.

101 posted on 03/07/2003 7:04:02 PM PST by geedee
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To: MadIvan
Ivan---

I was cheering him on. If anyone says they don't want him, we'll make him an honorary FReeper. CheneyChick, RummyChick, and I say it's ok!
102 posted on 03/07/2003 7:04:20 PM PST by Maigrey (Part of the Gonzo News Service, and a Jesus Freak too!)
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To: Mo1
I tuned in a bit late. Has Spain spoken yet?
103 posted on 03/07/2003 7:05:21 PM PST by Green
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To: Miss Marple
Cool. I just downloaded this little program that will allow me hopefully to record Straw as he talks and store it on my hard-drive.
104 posted on 03/07/2003 7:06:15 PM PST by BCrago66
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To: MadIvan
I'll tell you what, if the British people didn't stand up and shout with pride at the speech of Jack Straw today they're not the British people I remember.

You should be very, very proud to be British tonight Ivan.

105 posted on 03/07/2003 7:06:17 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: Miss Marple
Did the FM from Spain speak yet? .. she also did a great job
106 posted on 03/07/2003 7:06:19 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: MadIvan
I have been worried about Blair and Straw, because I know they are taking huge political risks with their party.

However, should they lose office next year, they can come on a speaking tour in the states and make tons of money. I would pay $100 just to shake Jack Straw's hand! LOL!

107 posted on 03/07/2003 7:06:40 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: Green
Chile up now. Straw should be soon.
108 posted on 03/07/2003 7:07:02 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Green
I'm not sure, I can't remember when she spoke .. but her speech was wonderful and to the point also
109 posted on 03/07/2003 7:09:02 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: Mo1
I didn't get to hear all of the Spanish Ambassador's speech. Did you watch it on FoxNews? They kept cutting away . . . but from what I heard she did good. She's purty salty her own self.
110 posted on 03/07/2003 7:09:22 PM PST by geedee
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To: Green
Thank you. A big cheer and a hunk of non-French cheese for the Freeper who can post the order of the speakers today and help those of us who were only able to watch bits and pieces and are playing catch-up.
111 posted on 03/07/2003 7:09:56 PM PST by secret garden (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: rep-always
Am with you! I really enjoyed that today!
112 posted on 03/07/2003 7:11:14 PM PST by PhiKapMom (Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US)
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To: Miss Marple
Is this a college course she is teaching??
113 posted on 03/07/2003 7:11:33 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: MadIvan
Vive La Straw. I was impressed by Jack Straw's statements today but I was underwhelmed by Colin Powell's.
114 posted on 03/07/2003 7:12:07 PM PST by eeriegeno
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To: Green
Spain is Speaking NOW!!!
115 posted on 03/07/2003 7:12:11 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: Mo1
Yes, it's that college course on the Xlinton Administration down at the University of Arkansas.
116 posted on 03/07/2003 7:12:30 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: geedee
She is speaking Now
117 posted on 03/07/2003 7:13:13 PM PST by Spruce
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To: Mo1
Spain is Speaking NOW!!!

Is Jack next?
118 posted on 03/07/2003 7:13:22 PM PST by GirlShortstop
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To: Miss Marple
OMG .. she is bad .. and I'm being nice with that comment .. *L*
119 posted on 03/07/2003 7:14:33 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: GirlShortstop

120 posted on 03/07/2003 7:16:20 PM PST by ALS
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