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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
In response to someone earlier on this thread, yes there was indeed some applause at the end of Mr. Straw's speech this time, thoroughly trumping the sullen Frog who not only got no appaluse himself this time, but sat stone faced and seething with rage while Mr Straw picked apart the stupidity and cupidity of the French position.

It was beautiful!!
81 posted on 03/07/2003 6:43:35 PM PST by UncleSamUSA (the land of the free and the home of the brave)
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To: RippleFire
Here comes Froggy...
82 posted on 03/07/2003 6:43:52 PM PST by BCrago66
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To: BCrago66
I'm almost disappointed that I can't hear his snearing frech accent.
83 posted on 03/07/2003 6:44:58 PM PST by BCrago66
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To: MadIvan
Outstanding.
We just love the British, including MadIvan.
Thanks for this post.
84 posted on 03/07/2003 6:45:00 PM PST by Diddley (Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.)
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To: MinuteGal
The Russky is now on....and on......and on. What a boring spiel.

You're welcome

And don't worry, once you hear Jack Straw speak, it will make up for these other idiots .. he was OUTSTANDING!

85 posted on 03/07/2003 6:45:01 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: rwfromkansas
Yeah, but that kind of talk needs to come to an end.
86 posted on 03/07/2003 6:45:03 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: MadIvan
He said Britain, the United States and Spain were tabling an amended resolution giving Saddam 10 more days to disarm peacefully...

As is sometimes said, Britain and the United States are two countries separated by a common language. "Tabling" means withdrawing or postponing, on this side of the Atlantic - it must mean "putting forth" on the other side.

All that aside, as an American and sometimes-Deadhead, I was overwhelmingly pleased with Jack Straw's performance today.

87 posted on 03/07/2003 6:45:52 PM PST by guitfiddlist
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To: Robert_Paulson2
. . . both screws on that ONE aircraft carrier they have... youknow the one with the short deck?

Whoa, now, we gotta be fair. An aircraft carrier only needs to be long enough to handle the planes designed to be used on its deck.


88 posted on 03/07/2003 6:47:25 PM PST by geedee
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To: MadIvan
I don't ordinarily applaud a Labour minister, but my impression of Jack Straw took a large leap when I saw how he handled the Sierra Leone insurrection.

Unusual for a leftist politician, he has an excellent understanding of the uses and limitations of military force and just how to apply it.

Compare how his use of force in Sierra Leone fostered clearer thinking on the part of the RUF with the ineffectiveness of the French response in Cote d'Ivoire.

He is again displaying that understanding in the Iraq issue and in the face of adverse polls and disapproval by his core support in Britain.

89 posted on 03/07/2003 6:48:39 PM PST by Clive
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To: Diddley
We just love the British, including MadIvan. Thanks for this post.

Add me to that Ivan, you lucky guy you having Jack!!! Jack for PM!

90 posted on 03/07/2003 6:48:59 PM PST by JustPiper
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To: Beck_isright
One more thing sir, IF your nation ever requires American help, call on me. My profound respect for our old friends has been expanded long beyond anything that your people could ever imagine. GBTQ.
91 posted on 03/07/2003 6:54:06 PM PST by Beck_isright ( I)
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To: PhiKapMom
Could not agree more. It was an amazing display of courage and straight talk by Mr. Straw. Bravo. Prime Minister Blair should be very proud.
92 posted on 03/07/2003 6:54:19 PM PST by rep-always
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To: Miss Marple
. . . showing that course on Clinton at the University of Arkansas.

And I hear, despite the best efforts of some FReepers, nothing about any of Pee Wee's many, many scandals will be allowed to be taught.

Short course.

Witch doctor spanks his ass when he's born, Hitlery -- dressed in leathers and spurs and cracking a mean whip -- spanks it at night before he goes to sleep, and Freepers spank it into perpetual forevermore-ness.

Hell, even I could pass that sucker!

93 posted on 03/07/2003 6:55:12 PM PST by geedee
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To: isthisnickcool
I think the computer is behind the play on television. I think you are at the right spot.
94 posted on 03/07/2003 6:55:19 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: MadIvan
vitriolic United Nations tirade ?!?

HE TOLD THE TRUTH!

95 posted on 03/07/2003 6:57:34 PM PST by ChadGore (Next time there's a war in Europe, the loser has to keep France.)
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To: Miss Marple
I'm watching the chinese guy. How long before Straw comes on? I don't recall. Am dying to see it again.
96 posted on 03/07/2003 7:01:43 PM PST by rep-always
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To: All
When is Straw on? Before or after China? Anyone know?
97 posted on 03/07/2003 7:02:00 PM PST by secret garden (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: secret garden
after
98 posted on 03/07/2003 7:03:00 PM PST by Green
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To: secret garden
I think there are a couple more people before Straw comes on
99 posted on 03/07/2003 7:03:47 PM PST by Mo1 (RALLY FOR AMERICA - VALLEY FORGE,PA MARCH 16, 2003 1:00 PM)
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To: geedee
Ha! Ths class looked like those shots from "The Wonder Years" where the science professor is droning on and on while the students are about comatose! Hilarious!
100 posted on 03/07/2003 7:03:55 PM PST by Miss Marple
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