Vote for Blair - get Bush - damaged peoples - destroyed lives

"…we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values…
Project for the New American Century June 3rd 1997

“I explained to the Prime Minister that the policy of my government is the removal of Saddam and that all options are on the table."
Press Conference: Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush 6 April 2002

“I advocate an enlightened self interest that puts fighting for our values right at the heart of the policies necessary to protect our nations. Engagement in the world on the basis of these values, not isolationism from it is the hard-headed pragmatism for the 21st Century.”
Prime Minister’s speech at the George Bush Senior Presidential Library 7th April 2002













“I advocate an enlightened self interest that puts fighting for our values right at the heart of the policies necessary to protect our nations. Engagement in the world on the basis of these values, not isolationism from it is the hard-headed pragmatism for the 21st Century.”
Prime Minister’s speech at the George Bush Senior Presidential Library 7th April 2002
How democracy & Freedom are installed in Fallujah
Right click on pix above and click on "View Image" to see original in new window

Ex-Councillor in Birmingham Cleared over Vote-Rigging Claims

A former Labour Party councillor accused of being one of the ringleaders of what a judge described as a widespread vote-rigging fraud cleared his name today.

The Appeal court panel was heavyweight, Lord Phillips, Master of the Rolls, a Lord Justice Brooke, vice- president of the Appeal court, and Lord Justice Dyson. Prefessional indemnity Insurers were watching because of cover to local authorities and their returning officers in particular. The 3 judges quashed the findings of Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey QC relating to Muhammad Afzal.

Lord Phillips said the ruling of Judge Mawrey would have to be changed to delete any reference to Mr Afzal being personally guilty of corrupt and illegal practices involving postal voting.

The deputy High Court judge’s rulings on two other councillors in Aston – that they were involved in illegal practices – remains. The police described finding Mr Afzal and Mr Kazi (Mohammed Kazi is a longstanding Labour officer. He is a former postman and official of the postal workers’ union ) and Mr Islam ( A handwriting expert found that Mr Islam had signed 121 voting papers using five names and six addresses), handling unsealed postal ballots in a deserted warehouse in the city. During the 4 week Election Court hearings, Commissioner Mawrey was told the trio had been caught operating a "vote-rigging factory".

He said there was evidence of “massive, systematic and organised fraud” in the campaign had made a mockery of the election and ruled that not less than 1,500 votes had been cast fraudulently in Birminham. One of the wards where corruption was said to be rife covered Aston, an inner-city neighbourhood. This is the stamping ground of Muhammad Afzal, a city councillor for 23 years, widely regarded as the most powerful man in Birmingham Asian politics.

Ramby de Mello, representing Mr Afzal, told the judges at today’s hearing that his client had not had a fair trial at the election court.

The judges will give their reasons for their decision at a later date.

A relieved Mr Afzal said : “I am glad I have been vindicated by the Court of Appeal.

“I have always believed in British justice and justice has been done to me. It has been proved that I have done nothing wrong.”

Paisley and the DUP could be 4th biggest party @ Westminster

Ian Paisley the shy retiring Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church is set for a massive electoral victory on Thursday. He has stood in the way of every political initiative in Northern Ireland for nearly 40 years and has no intention of changing.

Paisley describes every UUP either a traitor or a Judas who is determined to sell Northern Ireland into a united Ireland.

He is set to lead the 4^th largest Party in Westminster and will relish the wielding of his power in it.On 26 November 2003, elections were held for a devolved NI.Assembly (that is still officially suspended). The DUP routed David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party, and officially became Northern Ireland's biggest party with 26 per cent of first-preference votes these Westminster elections will serve to increase his control and influence.

The Sinn Fein leadership, who have received kid glove treatment by the capitalist media, see themselves as political geniuses. There will be a sea change when they are increasingly seen as unreformed terrorists. To make matters worse, the more vehement Adams' denials of IRA membership, the more uneasy becomes a base that is steeped in republican militarism.

There were 105 candidates contesting Northern Ireland's 18 seats. 15 have sitting MP’s and three veterans are Ulster Unionist, Martin Smyth in South Belfast, the SDLP's Seamus Mallon in Newry and Armagh and former SDLP leader John Hume in Foyle.

Johnny White, (UDP Chairman) spokesperson for loyalist 'mad dog' Johnny Adair, routinely explained his enormous wealth by claiming that it arose from the proceeds of the sale of jail handicrafts… we have reached the “Johnny” moment. Will Blair sieze it or yield to Paisley and the DUP ?
August 2000 BBC pic of Johnny White at UDA/UFF Rally

Never forget there are elections ....and terrorists in Ulster

..... we torture people in the UK as well.... and it is condoned by the public and the politicians.

Professor Liam Kennedy is standing against Gerry Adams in West Belfast and challenged Adams to a public debate on paramilitary violence - he was "advised" to remove his posters. He is the author of "They Shoot Children Don't They ?" an analysis of para military violence against children

He has a website

True story ? ...... an explanation for Blair's Faustian pact with Bush at Crawford 2002

Blairs legacy of obedience from Thatcher >

From a letter [1] from Gordon Logan to Reg Keys (the guy who's running against Blair!); this is copied from www.xymphora.blogspot.com n unusually well informed (US ?) website. For original posting goto >> who Logan is, if the letter is genuine and truthful remains to be seen, Keys has not posted this on his site.

April 29, 2005

The Secret Behind Blair's Wars

Dear Mr. Keys,

All the discussion on the Iraq war is essentially a diversion. There is a secret clause in the Trident submarine treaty that was signed by Mrs Thatcher in 1983. The secret clause states that the British Prime Minister is required to go to war if he/she gets the order from the President of the United States. You will appreciate that this information explains a lot, notably why Blair has repeatedly gone to war, but only when required to by the Americans. It also explains why Blair is so different from his Labour predecessors, such as Harold Wilson, who refused to send our troops to Vietnam in 1968. The secret agreement was designed by Thatcher to secretly tie the hands of British Prime Ministers for many years to come. Without naming sources, I received this information from a British Army officer a couple of years ago.

Some people (Martin Bell?) may try to dissuade you from raising this information in your campaign. That would be a grave mistake. it could cause a sea change if you can get it into the media. It is convincing, it is true and it explains things. If you can get it into the news somehow, you will be able to take the initiative, even if you lose this election. This information will be of immense value to your movement 'Military Families Against War'. It can be used to focus your campaign around a priority objective, which is to get the treaty revised and the secret clause removed.

Owing to the subordination of our national sovereignty to foreign interests - American and even Israeli - there is significant dissent within the armed forces and the security services. It don't think it will take much for people with courage to speak out in your support. After all, it's obvious. Already Britain has a varied record of dissent in such matters: several people have spoken out on sensitive issues. If not in Britain, they have done it in America, thanks to the First Amendment.

I would be very grateful if you would send a brief reply, to let me know that you have received this. I firmly believe that your son's tragic death will not have been futile, if you and your movement can make this a national issue.

Yours sincerely,

Gordon Logan

Xymphora concludes .........

· Blair knew in March 2002 that the attack on Iraq was illegal, and has known this ever since.

* Blair was ordered to attack Iraq by Bush in April 2002.

* Blair and his inner circle arranged to set up Saddam in July 2002.

* When he couldn't get a UN resolution, Blair arranged for both American and British pressure to be placed on Lord Goldsmith, until he was so worn down that he issued an opinion written by Blair's inner circle.

* Blair lied about the state of the legal advice he had been given, and refused to hear advice he knew he wouldn't like.

* Both Blair and Bush have consistently lied in claiming that the war was not inevitable.

Tony Blair is a liar and a war criminal.
Interesting interview with a Gordon Logan (26 June 03) who leads the Sentry E-3D (often called AWACS) Integrated Project Team (IPT). Sentry E-3Ds play a critical role in overseas operations and were closely involved both Op Veritas (Afghanistan) and Op Telic (Iraq). @ MOD website

Independent today Sunday - usual uninformed press bollocks

PM secretly signs up to new deterrent as UN tries to cut global threat

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor Independent 02 May 2005

Tony Blair has secretly decided (?) that Britain will build a new generation of nuclear deterrent to replace the ageing Trident submarine fleet at a cost of more than £10bn - a move certain to dismay thousands of Labour Party loyalists in the approach to polling day.

This is 100% tosh. The UK has no nuclear weapons, the Trident missile war heads belong to the US. To be updated, maintained etc., they have to be returned to Kings Bay, Georgia US. The UK merely store and keep them ready for use. Use is strictly controlled by the US. John Major started the run down of all UK military nuclear capability which is now complete. Since the withdrawal of the RAF's free-fall nuclear bomb, the WE177, Trident D5 is the only nuclear system still deployed by the UK (God knows what the US have here) . The current and only UK operaable nuclear WMD the Trident II D-5 a three-stage, solid propellant, inertially guided FBM with a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles. The Trident acquisition program is said to have cost an eye popping £17BN and each missile $28 Mn. …so any replacement will be cost more than £10Bn and will be decided not by Tony or any other PM but by the US military For more >>> And @ MOD >>
And CND website >>>>

Reg Keys is making massive impact in Sedgefield

To go to his site (v.impressive) ...>

Links from his site on news storiies.....

The smoking gun - new evidence for regime change

Troops' families demand legal inquiry

New legal fears over war

..but don't expect to see much coverage on BBC.
Pic (c) reg Keys site

Evans Sent ....BBC splash Blair support again

2 May, 0925BST Ginger group By Mark SimpsonBBC News POSTED: Monday 2 May,0925BST
"He may look more like Charles Kennedy than Tony Blair, but TV presenter Chris Evans is siding with Labour.
The ginger-haired star introduced the PM at a Labour rally in Enfield last night, showered him with witty praise and then made a confession - he reads the Daily Telegraph.
Evans said it was unusual reading material for a socialist, but added that he liked the crossword and also wanted to find out what the Tories were up to. "They're not up to very much," he concluded, which went down well with the Labour audience. blah blah blah" click on link if you can stomach more New Labour speak

Here we go again, the BBC Blair Fan Club in full cry yet again, and the "entertainment industry" boosting Blair in a fit of mutual backscratching. In 1998 MORI undertook a poll for M&M's of the young voters and 7% wanted Chris Evans as PM...Tony would like a share of that so Chris is giving him a lift and also slippinf into gear with the BBC again anxious of course to boost the listeners.

BBC Announces end of election, Tony Blair endorsed by Chris Evans !!!!

" Tony Blair was introduced at a rally in Enfield by DJ Chris Evans, who gave Labour a ringing endorsement."

Don't believe it? Then go to BBC Story >>>
You can rely on the leggy, sassy Armani suited BBC Radio 2 Controller Sandra Pitt to bring you all the news,...the really important news. John "Sweaty" Sweeney eat your heart out.
For..Here's a story from .....

Monday January 17, 09:39 AM

Stations unite for Radio Aid

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tony Blair has joined maverick DJ Chris Evans to help raise money for victims of Asia's Tsunami disaster during an all-day radio broadcast.

Blair was the special guest on Evans's morning broadcast on Monday, and put up for auction a personal tour of his Downing Street residence. (Expect CE back on the BBC schedules soon...)

..... Just 2 old actors getting together to scratch each other's backs...That's showbiz folks...... Helped no doubt by the assistance of Freud Communications (prop.42 yr old Matthew Freud, son of Ex Lib/Dem MP and bore Clement Freud) who provides PR services to both Tony B & Chris E. 42 yr old Matthew is married to Head of B Sky B, Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of Rupe , close friend of Peter Mandelson. BSkyB paid for a large party for Young Labour (in the World Famous Palace Discotheque in Blackpool) at the 1998 Labour Party Conference, organised by Matthew Freud and hosted by Chris Evans. The party cost £20,000....small world.. entertainment. Later of course Freud was on the chief planning committee for the Millenium Dome.

John Sweeney and the BBC take over abusing Moazzem Begg from Bush

Look for theHatchet faced handmaiden from the BBC <<<

Moazzem Begg, the b**** and John Sweeney the boor from the BBC

Blackburn, May Day and Moazzem Begg, a shy, bespectacle diffident soul, victim of 3 years illegal imprisonment by the US , with 20 months in solitary. Shuttled around the world from Bagram, the Kandahar to Guantanamo to London before being released without charge or apology or compensation faced a warm crowd of several hundred.

His harrowing tale, the neglect of his Government, the indifference of his kidnappers, the refusal to provide legal assistance and representation, the removal of all means of communication with family, friends and lawyers, a child born in his absence....a humbly told and frightening tale of Government corruption could not fail to move.

Not so John Sweeney BBC apparatchik and Gubment apologist, the portly shambling figure in the second hand, shabby and stained DOM raincoat, sweaty forehead and the moist lips of a ……

No, our John, his evident venereal strabismus giving him an unpleasant aspect even when he unsmilingly smiling confronted the polite and sweet Mozzem,” Why did you come here to support Craig Murray, he isn’t a Muslim ?” The BBC camera rolled. The Listeners gasped.

Sweeney was challenged at this insensitive and offensive remark. “ I am provocative” he explains, “..it is my job”. His hatchet faced handmaiden, with glacial and forbidding stare, a Bet Lynch lookalike down to the leopard skin and brassy stare of a streetwalker looked on, impassive as an Ice Maiden.

Hard faced harridan from the BBC >>>>>>


Further challenged Sweeney proudly- and comically, with evident polished and practised relish, reeled off a list of his achievement, Amnesty award, 2 visits to Chechynya, Afghanistan,,blah, blah.. the sweat stood out even more on his brow.

He was challenged again. His unnecessary hassling of Begg placed him alongside his inquisitors at Guantanamo… the hard faced … well... lady from the BBC hustled him off….smelling trouble.

A quick Google and his form is apparent... 2 days in sunny Blackburn dogging Craig Murray's footsteps... a Foreign Secretary, shocked and shaken behind shuttered windows, who has surrendered the streets to Murray ... the Moazzem Begg meeting , improbably in "Tony's" Ballroom a decayed 20's plais de danse - because the Labour \Local Authority refused to provide a FREE venue as legally obliged - So this is Sweeney's story.. or an attempt to conjure one up. Rough up the ex con and get him to say something he will regret on camera - Sweeney is missing his way, he wants to apply for a job with the torture crews on Diego Garcia...or is that being provocative ?

Blair under pressure in Sedgefield

Read about the Peace camp

PC Plod the Vid Kid takes interest in the Press

Tabitha from the Daily Torygraph was getting her winsome profile and that of her partner in journalistic crime, a close examination at the Anti- Jack Straw march through Blackburn on Saturday.

It’s encouraging to see the forces of LauraNorder keeping an eye on the reactionary right wing Anti-Government Press run by secretive Tax Exiles.

It was of course impossible for him to video Jack Straw's dwindling band of camp followers - he made a no-show all day and has surrendered the streets to his opponents - preferring to no doubt work in the shadows.

Fraud fears over postal vote theft

Blackburn's PC Plods carefully look at the Craig Murray Votemobile Vote catching machine, "I tell you, Sarge, it's a fire engine"

MURDO MACLEOD POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Scotsman

SUNDAY 1/5/05 - EUROPEAN experts in electoral fraud (?) are set to investigate the UK’s "flawed" postal ballot system amid fears tens of thousands of votes could be stolen on May 5.

The Council of Europe (CoE), which oversees democracy and human rights across the continent, is poised to send legal experts to the UK to investigate how easy the British system is to rig and recommend changes.
They will probably make abee line for Blackburn.

Shock Horror BBC names Craig Murray

Sunday BBC 4 Programme covers the Blackburn election and mentions the surge of support for Craig Murray, the campaign of MPAC (plus interview) but relentlessly promotes the view that The Man with Blood on His Hands, Right Honourable Jack Straw will be re-elected.

Read Craig about the BBC’s lack of interest in the Guardian on Thursday 2.4.05

“The last mention I had on the BBC was Newsnight a fortnight ago,”

Postal Votes for sale on E-Bay

E bay Item number: 5972467560 thunderunder1

£0.10 " type="submit">
Time left: 6 days 8 hours
7-day listing, Ends 06-May-05 15:42:32 BST Start time: 29-Apr-05 15:42:32 BSTHistory:0 bids Item location: Scotland, East Kilbride
United Kingdom Post to: United Kingdom Postage costs: FREE - Royal Mail 1st Class Standard (Within United Kingdom )

It seems to me that 21 Century politicians are less interested in the people they represent. Selling my vote to the highest bidder is more likely to give me more results than those come from politician.

The highest bidder is guaranteed my vote to the party of their choice.

Voter Fraud Early warning System set up

David Monks, leader of the returning officers, said that all 440 returning officers were sent an e-mail yesterday with a number to call if they were concerned about fraud allegations, printing or postal problems.

He also disclosed that returning officers were asking polling station staff to report any individual who came into a station on May 5 with more than four or five postal votes.

Election officers have been told to call the police if anyone brings more than five postal ballot papers into a polling station.

Could be some nervous people in parts of Blackburn ?

Health inequalities and New Labour: how the promises compare with real progress BMJ today

Mary Shaw, reader in medical sociology, George Davey Smith, professor of clinical epidemiolog, Danny Dorling, professor of human geography

Inequalities in health between rich and poor areas of Britain widened in the 1980s and 1990s, and the current government has repeatedly expressed its intention to reduce these inequalities. In this article, however, the authors report that inequalities in life expectancy have continued to widen, alongside widening inequalities in income and wealth.



British Medical Journal 2005;330:1016-1021 (30 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7498.1016

Reichstag Fire, Pearl Harbour, 9/11 ..Blackburn 5/5/05 ?

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
-- Joseph Goebbels, German Minister of Propaganda

Lord Ahmed the big noise in Victim Support

When ex chip shop owner and fish frier, Baron Ahmed of Rotherham was ennobled in 1997 he wanted to take his oath of loyalty on the Koran. In over 1,000 years this had never happened. Precedents would be created, laws would ned to be passed.

The soon to be Noble Lord urged the authorities to delve more deeply into the tradition; and in a bold act of legal interpretation — ijtihad, in Muslim parlance — it was decided that since the House of Lords was Britain's top judicial authority, it could set its own rules in respect of swearing-in ceremonies.

So he took his oath on Islam's holy writ, and a precedent was be set for the next millennium or so.

It’s a pity that he was unable to pass his wisdom on to his good friend Jack Straw and use the same “ijtihad” to allow the publication of the Attorney Generals advice – anyway, someone “illegally”…er “leaked” it and Tony had to publicise his lies and deceit.

Let’s hope Lord Ahmed ( a big noise in Victim Support) is giving some good advice…and help to Jack Straw, as he sees his support in Blackburn crumbling.

P.S. Didn't Kofi Anna say the Iraq invasion was illegal ? Now why does nobody mention it ?

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

Ugandan born Yasmin Alibhai-Brown got her first degree from Makerere University in 1972. That same year Yasmin left Uganda for Britain, and eventually a Masters degree from Oxford University.

After starting a family she taught and then started in journalism. Amin’s forced expelsion of Asian Africans forced her to view Britain as her new home: a defining moment, it left an enduring legacy on Yasmin's future work on race, nationality and identity formation.

Yasmin took up a post as a Research Fellow at the influential Institute for Public Policy Research where she published in 1999 'True Colours', a report which called on the British government to be more active in combating racism. It was an influential and timely publication, following the Macpherson Inquiry into the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, and the failure of British police to bring his killers to justice.

Following the publication of 'True Colors' she served on the Home Office Race Forum and advised various key institutions on race issues.Yasmin left the Institute for Public Policy Research in 2000 to become a Senior Researcher at the Foreign Policy Centre (The European Think Tank with a Global Outlook); a think tank launched under the auspices of the Prime Minister Rt. Hon Tony Blair to find new and dynamic ways to address foreign policy issues.

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown was appointed MBE in 2001 for services to journalism although famously had doubts about it later. She has also recieved the BBC ASIA Award for Achievement in Writing 1999, the Commission for Racial Equality Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism 2000, EMMA Media Personality of the Year 2000, Windrush Outstanding Merit Award 2000, and the George Orwell Prize for Political Journalism 2002, among others.She claims to be a a terribly flawed but practising Shia Muslim” and is often seen as a supercritical of the faithful – she is well informed and her views should be not lightly dismissed. A well known face and voice on the metropolitan media circus and commentatorwith her own column in the Independent

New Labour ---- News headlines !!!!

Go to New labour Official Election News page
Top of the news - indeed the ONLY news story about the election at 5.30pm today when the Press is screaming about the Attorney General's advice to the Cabinet (which they only saw this morning 2 years later) about the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Well, rest assured Mr Cambell and his colleagues know what we want, the only item on the News page dated today......

Ross Kemp: I know Blair cares - he'll get my vote
Thursday 28 April 2005
Actor Ross Kemp writes in the Mirror as to why he's voting Labour on May 5th.

EU Parliament condemns Guantanamo Bay - after 3 years!

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has urged the United States to end what it calls torture and inhumane or degrading treatment of detainees at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The resolution was adopted Tuesday in Strasbourg by delegates from the Council's 46 member states. It said the United States has betrayed its own highest principles in the way it has prosecuted the war on terror. By VOA News 26 April 2005

Last year, the International Committee of the Red Cross said U.S. military has intentionally used psychological and sometimes physical coercion on prisoners. The report said the U.S. treatment of detainees is "tantamount to torture."

On November 6th, 2001 , Jack Straw, reportedly denounced Osama Bin Laden: "He is obviously psychotic and paranoid as well ... a key characteristic of people who are psychotic and paranoid is their sense of complete detachment from the sufferings of others."

Straw demonstrates exactly the same lack of concern about the torture victims of the US militia, at Guantanamo Bay, Bagram, Diego Garcia, Uzbekistan and who knows where else on the Planet.

Scotsman blasts Prime Minister, Howard calls him "liar"

Key quote "The Prime Minister has always said the British people must make the final judgment on this matter. Millions certainly will on 5 May." - CHARLES KENNEDY

Tony Blair has suffered a devastating blow, now the legal advice before illegally invading Iraq he received, has been leaked bore no resemblance to the alleged summary presented to Parliament. (pic signing plane bigger than his ego)

“Criminal Intent, Illegal Wars, Gangsta Plots: Why the Bush/Blair Gang will be tried for war crimes” by Edward Teague read it NOW

Opportunity for Jack Straw to meet Moazzem Begg

Moazzem Begg, the British citizen recently released from Guantanamo Bay, will endorse Craig Murray at a public meeting in Blackburn on Sunday 1st May.

Watch this space for confirmation of the venue!
Cage Prisoners ...More on Guantanamo Bay prisoners and how you can help. >

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION AGAINST JACK STRAW - BLACKBURN - SATURDAY 30TH APRIL

Tell Jack Straw To Hit The Road! National Demonstration Against Our Torture-Tainted Foreign Secretary - Blackburn - 2.30pm Saturday 30th April

Assemble at Bangor Street Community Centre, Whalley Range, Blackburn BB1 6NZ for a march on Jack's Home Turf.

There will be speeches by Independent antiwar candidate Craig Murray and local community leaders.

Contact the Craig Murray Campaign on 01254 695 919 to find out more! NOW

Straw's tinted window van egged

Jack Straw, who has taken to scuttling at speed about the streets of Blackburn in a sleek, powerful van, with tinted windows, was the victim of a hail of rotten eggs by taxi drivers in Audley Range.

The vehicle left the area at speed and a shaken and anxious Jack Straw was later seen leaving the vehicle.

In public Straw looks increasingly worn and anxious, as he calls in the big guns of turncoat ex cabinet Minister Cook and wannabe PM, Gordon Brown to shore up his crumbling vote.

On Monday the Right Honorable Jack Straw said on BBC "Today" / Monday (printed in Indy Tuesday) ..." "The attorney general came to his view. He offered the view. It was unequivocal. The prime minister was right."

Read next post to see if his understanding of the word "unequivocal" agrees with yours or the OED ..."leaving no doubt"...

Goldsmith told Blair Iraq was illegal on eve of war

Tony Blair was told by the government's most senior law officer in a confidential minute less than two weeks before the war that British participation in the American-led invasion of Iraq could be declared illegal.

by: Richard Norton-Taylor on: 27th April, 05 Guardian

Full text: summary of attorney general's legal advice on March 7 2003
SHOCKIN AWEFUL

26. To sum up, the language of resolution 1441 leaves the position unclear and the statements made on adoption of the resolution suggest that there were differences of view within the Council as to the legal effect of the resolution. Arguments can be made on both sides. (On the one hand this and on the other hand that)A key question is whether there is in truth a need for an assessment of whether Iraq's conduct constitutes a failure to take the final opportunity or has constituted a failure fully to cooperate within the meaning of OP4 such that the basis of the ceasefire is destroyed. If an assessment is needed of that situation, it would be for the Council to make it. A narrow textual reading of the resolution suggests that sort of assessment is not needed, because the Council has predetermined the issue. Public statements, on the other hand, say otherwise.
27. In these circumstances, I remain of the opinion that the safest legal course would be to secure the adoption of a further resolution to authorise the use of force. [...] The key point is that it should establish that the Council has concluded that Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity offered by resolution 1441, as in the draft which has already been tabled.
28. Nevertheless, having regard to the information on the negotiating history which I have been given and to the arguments of the US Administration which I heard in Washington (i.e I had my arm twsited up my back) , I accept that a reasonable case can be made that resolution 1441 is capable in principle of reviving the authorisation in 678 without a further resolution.
29. However, (On the one hand this and on the other hand that) the argument that resolution 1441 alone has revived the authorisation to use force in resolution 678 will only be sustainable if there are strong factual grounds for concluding that Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity. In other words, we would need to be able to demonstrate hard evidence of non-compliance and non-cooperation. Given the structure of the resolution as a whole, the views of UNMOVIC and the IAEA will be highly significant in this respect. In the light of the latest reporting by UNMOVIC, you will need to consider very carefully whether the evidence of non-cooperation and non-compliance by Iraq is sufficiently compelling to justify the conclusion that Iraq has failed to take its final opportunity.
30. In reaching my conclusion, I have taken account of the fact that on a number of previous occasions, including in relation to Operation Desert Fox in December 1998 and Kosovo in 1999, UK forces have participated in military action on the basis of advice from my predecessors that the legality of the action under international law was no more than reasonably arguable. But a "reasonable case" does not mean that if the matter ever came before a court I would be confident that the court would agree with the view. I judge that, having regard to the arguments on both sides, (On the one hand this and on the other hand that)and considering the resolution as a whole in the light of the statements made on adoption and subsequently, a court might well conclude that OPs 4 and 12 do require a further Council decision in order to revive the authorisation in resolution 678. But equally(On the one hand this and on the other hand that) I consider that the counter view can be reasonably maintained. However, it must be recognised that on previous occasions when military action was taken on the basis of a reasonably arguable case, the degree of public and Parliamentary scrutiny of the legal issue was nothing as great as it is today.
31. The analysis set out above applies whether a second resolution fails to be adopted because of a lack of votes or because it is vetoed. As I have said before, I do not believe that there is any basis in law for arguing that there is an implied condition of reasonableness which can be read into the power of veto conferred on the permanent members of the Security Council by the UN Charter. So there are no grounds for arguing that an "unreasonable veto" would entitle us to proceed on the basis of a presumed Security Council authorisation. (On the one hand this and on the other hand that) In any event, if the majority of world opinion remains opposed to military action, it is likely to be difficult on the facts to categorise the French veto as "unreasonable". The legal analysis may, however, be affected by the course of events over the next week or so, eg the discussions on the draft second resolution. If we fail to achieve the adoption of a second resolution we would need to consider urgently at that stage the strength of our legal case in the light of circumstances at the time.
    

So there you have it, ... even after all the equivication and legalese, there really was no legal case for invasion and the implication that the bombing of Serbia into the Stone Age from 20,000 feet and the Iraqi "Desert Fox" BLITZKREIG were also illegal -

......and this is what Jack Straw, Bush's Poodle signed up to - In your name. Do you wonder he looks ill - no wonder Tony Blair is keeping away from Blackburn !!!!!!

USAF, US Navy and Marine , the British RAF, and submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched against military targets in Iraq from December 16 to 19, 1998. The official explanation for this sustained and relentless 4 day attack was that it was retaliation for Iraq's refusal to allow the inspection of sites as stated in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, agreed upon at the end of the Persian Gulf War. The name of this operation was Desert Fox.

The strikes ordered by President Clinton (For which Parliamentary approval was not asked and not given) on December 16th were divided into two waves. The first wave included up to 200 cruise missiles launched from cruisers and other ships in the Gulf region. A second wave of F/A-18 Hornets and F-14 Super Tomcats attacked the headquarters of Iraqi Security Police, one of the eight presidential palaces of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi Intelligence Headquarters, and other targets around Iraq.

On December 17, Air-Launched Cruise Missiles from B-52s operating out of Diego Garcia were used each contained a 2,000 lbs warhead, unlike the Tomahawk missiles fired from ships, which had 1,000 lbs warheads. 100 ALCMs were fired (@ $1 Mn a pop) on the second night. British aircraft also came into play this evening, launching air strikes against Iraq from bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. MPs from all the major British political parties expressed their support for the air strikes when Tony Blair addressed them, as the Tornadoes were returning from their first strike mission.

On December 19 (1st day of the Moslem Holy month of Ramadan). Nonetheless, air strikes continued on this fourth day, with attacks being carried out on new targets and secondary strikes being launched on targets that were not completely destroyed in earlier waves of sorties. At the end of the day, the US announced they were ceasing operations in the region, after approximately 600 sorties and 400 cruise missile attacks.