Blix vs Blair (But this time it is over our weapons of mass destruction)

[cal04]

Dr Hans Blix, the former UN weapons inspector, will launch a new attack on Tony Blair today, warning that the decision to press ahead with a full replacement for Trident will make it more difficult to stop Iran acquiring the bomb.

The respected chairman of the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction will use a speech in London to renew hostilities with Mr Blair. He will say that modernising Britain's arsenal puts the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) under "strain" and increases the feeling among non-nuclear states, such as Iran, that they are being "cheated" by the nuclear states.

Dr Blix will take Britain and the other permanent members of the UN Security Council - America, China, Russia and France - to task for failing to comply with their obligations under the NPT by failing to do more to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. He will point out "the strong feelings of frustration" at the way nuclear nations "are in the process" of developing new types of weapons rather than examining how they could manage defence needs with non-nuclear weaponry.

His remarks, in a speech to the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, follow the decision of the Cabinet last Thursday to "whip" a decision on the replacement for Trident through the Commons in the new year. Although the Tories are likely to back Mr Blair, there is strong concern over the issue on the Labour back benches.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2018719.ece

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

1. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT !

WE THE PEOPLE OF THIS EARTH NEED TO ELIMINATE ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS !

[Demeter]

2. Then We Will Have to Eliminate Warmakers

That will make survival of the species difficult, though.

(Reference "The Gate To Women's Country" by Sheri S. Tepper)