Guardian: Report Warns Blair Over Iran Action

[Hissyspit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk:80/uklatest/story/0,,-6394358,00.html

Report warns PM over Iran action
Press Association
Monday February 5, 2007 3:38 AM

Tony Blair faces calls to avert military action against Iran as a broad coalition of organisations warns it would be disastrous.

- snip -

President George Bush's criticism of alleged Iranian support for insurgency in Iraq has also revived concerns that his administration is gearing up for a possible attack. Mr Blair is accused by the alliance of charities, faith groups and other organisations of keeping open the prospect of military action as a negotiating tool.

In a report entitled Time to Talk: The Case for Diplomatic Solutions on Iran, they argue that the Government should be trying to secure face-to-face talks between the US and Iran.

Speaking ahead of its launch, former Labour minister Stephen Twigg, director of the Foreign Policy Centre, said: "The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable, they are unthinkable. Even according to the worst estimates, Iran is still years away from having a nuclear weapon. There is still time to talk and the Prime Minister must make sure our allies use it."

- snip -

The report warns that military action could further destabilise the region and provoke retaliatory attacks against British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. It could also undermine the war on terror by fuelling anti-western sentiments, while strikes against nuclear facilities risks unleashing radioactive contamination.

MORE

[illinoisprogressive]

1. both leaders have been repeatedly warned and are they listening????

[KoKo]

2. Isn't this the same group that tried to stop Blair from supporting Bush

to go into Iraq? They sound very familiar. Blair didn't listen then and he won't listen now. He's tied to the Chimp by a leash.

I don't know why the Brits can't get rid of him...but like Bush he just seems to be able to hang in there.

[DAMANgoldberg]

3. Liberal Party machinations

Tony Blair (L-UK) will be out of office this summer and new elections called, so if he goes to War with Iran, then the next PM will have to deal with the aftermath. 43 has 2 more years of this.

[LeftishBrit]

6. He's not Liberal; he's Labour

I know it's hard to imagine a nominal Socialist acting like him; but he is and does.

[TheBaldyMan]

7. he' s a crypto-Thatcherite, nothing to do with socialism by his own admission

RW little fuckwit should be strung up by his bollocks and left to hang.

[LeftishBrit]

5. We are getting rid of him; just not soon enough

He won the general election, because his opponent was even worse (imagine an election between a right-wing Dem and an even worse Republican). We don't have a primary system at this level, so it depends on the Parliamentary Labour Party replacing him as their leader. They have already forced him to announce his retirement; unfortunately, it won't take place for a few more months.

I am not sure that the next leader, Gordon Brown, will be any better on domestic policy; but I think he'll at least be better on foreign policy, not being Bush's poodle, and not positively LIKING wars.

[oasis]

4. Bush's robot poodle can't resist his master's voice.(eom)