A glimmer of hope? - The UK seeks compromise on UN resolution

[Urban Ranger]

From the BBC:

Reports from the United Nations say Britain is proposing changes to the planned new Security Council resolution it is tabling on Iraq, to allow President Saddam Hussein a final opportunity to disarm peacefully.

Is Blair softening?

[The Viceroy]

I will wait to hear this from Blair before I believe it, if it is, I hope the Tory's eat him for breakfast ... (unless there is a cunning plan behind it all, that the American's are fully aware of).

Traditionally the UK has always tried to act as the bridge between the US and the EU (or at least it thinks it has), but in this case, the chasm is so huge, it simply made sence to sit on the side your most agreeable with. If Blair is wanting to play the bridge again, he is sure to fall to his death.

[CerberusIV]

Blair is looking at the UK opinion polls which suggest about 24% support a war without a further resolution but nearer 75% support with a resolution. It is an attempt to give the other UNSC members a last chance to go with a compromise that will allow a US led, UK supported, invasion of Iraq.

Blair is not softening, merely trying to minimise the domestic fallout when the invasion starts. He needs a second resolution which can be presented as authorising war, otherwise he probably won't last as Prime Minister, particularly if it goes badly.

[The Viceroy]

The BBC is stating now that its just one of many different idea's they are considering .. so it may not be the case.

Blair has wanted the 2nd UN resolution for quite a while (am i wrong, but wasn't it the French that first spoke about a 2nd resolution ??) and your certainly correct CerberusIV that if he wants the UK public to support the war, it needs a 2nd resolution.

But Blair to his credit has simply done what he thinks is correct, rather than play to polls .. if he starts trying to sit pretty in the middle between the US and France/Germany, he will end up becoming irrelevant himself.

[JohnT]

2 replies in and Cerebus said what I was going to. This is a good move by the Brits and should be accepted with minimalist grumbling by the US.

[SlowwHand]

Too little, too late.
300,000 troops haven't been put in the region for Hussein to now agree to change his ways.
Besides, it's just another ploy on his part.

[MRT144]

the question i have is, is blair right for listening to the people, or living up to his pledge to help bush? which is more important?

[TheStinger]

Originally posted by MRT144
the question i have is, is blair right for listening to the people, or living up to his pledge to help bush? which is more important?

I think he is doing both, UK opinion is swinging back towards his position anyway

[Demerzel]

isn't it also the case that Blair is trying to avoid the Russians vetoing any hardline resolution?

[Barley]

News at lunchtime today.

UK is suggesting amendments to the proposed second resolution something along the lines of giving Saddam 1 final week to disarm. Aparently this amendment is supported by the UA and is picking up from a previous disregarded suggestion Russians a few weeks ago.

On a related matter its my belief that President “Red Neck” Bush made a serious miscalculation with the first resolution. Bush wants war regardless (to support his political agenda and cus his dada asked him to finish what he couldn’t). The first resolution was a smokescreen i.e. Bush expected to use it to justify his forthcoming unjust war and its backfired on him.

Weve been inspecting for 3 months, using CIA intelligence, satellite imaging and god knows what other technology to find the so call WMD. Where are they?????? Not one piece of credible evidence i.e. a biological bomb shell, lab samples etc has been produced yet. No evidence no war and that’s the problem Bush/Blair have.

Bush want a war and hes seeking to justify it via the UN, he just didn’t reckon on the UN (aka France, Germany etc.) having the backbone to stand up to him, couldn’t even buy the Turkish support with X Billion $ he tried to bribe them with.

STOP BUSH hes a warmongering germ.

[SlowwHand]

"On a related matter its my belief that President “Red Neck” Bush "

As opposed to a redneck Brit, I suppose.
Don't believe I hear Bush saying things of any similarity to your fine analogy.

[Demerzel]

I thought rednecks were a institution solely located in the good ol' USA old boy?

We have brummies if you want an local equivalent?

[TheStinger]

council estate scum is quite good( Dom Jolly)

[Zkribbler]

Blair's ploy is really quite clever.

Once Saddam hears that this new last-chance resolution has passed, he laugh himself to death.

[rah]

Well, it's obvious the US has attempted to buy some votes here. I wonder how much of this IRAQ has done. Maybe the French, Germans and Russians aren't mouthing off out of principle, but from having a full pocket. Hmmmmm