[A-List] IDS prays for the British troops

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

This is the signal that Blair has decided to go to war


The leader of the British opposition, Iain Duncan Smith, met Mr Blair on
Thursday morning and said he had been told a "second resolution is now
probably less likely than at any time before".

Mr Duncan Smith reported the prime minister as blaming the "intransigence"
of France in rejecting Britain's efforts to find a compromise second UN
resolution..

"That, and to a lesser extent the Russians, has meant that unaligned
nations are finding it difficult to make a decision because if it is going
to be vetoed anyway they are saying 'so what'," said Mr Duncan Smith.

"That means essentially military action has become more likely and with
that in mind our thoughts and prayers and I'm sure those of everybody and
those of my party are with our forces and their families at this time."


The unwritten British constitution is that at times of crisis they
transcend the two party system to preserve privilege, power, including the
oppression and exploitation based on that power. So as Blair's own
political position crumbles, he ostentatiously calls in the Leader of "Her
Majesty's Loyal" Opposition.

He actually gets Ian Duncan Smith to do the job of preparing public opinion
for the total failure of Blair's strategy of bridging the gap between the
US unilateralists and the UN, and to put the blame on the wicked French.
The argument is that as Blair said the only veto he would ignore is an
unreasonable one, the French have got to be made to appear unreasonable.

IDS cannot signal any disquiet. Indeed his only initiative can be to appear
statemanlike and pray for "our troops" - a signal that they are about to be
sent into war.

While Tony can give thanks that IDS is so willing to be used this way.

Meanwhile the BBC has just pulled a poll from its website asking


Who do you agree with on Iraq?

US and UK

France and Russia

This was running at almost 60% in favour of France and Russia at some
60,000 votes

The counter has now been reset to 1010 and the score is exactly 50 50.

A triumph to the British sense of fair play.

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2845867.stm?dynamic_vote=ON#vote_TP_vote_resolution_10_03_2003

Mind you as a check again with another 170 votes cast, France and Russian
seem to be gaining again.

Somebody must be praying for the Iraqis.

Chris Burford
London