Report that Blair is urging Bush to delay war; criticism mounts in Labor Party

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

These developments are reported as British rail workers blocked transport of
war materiel to the Gulf. Of course, the demand for Security Council
approval of the war leaves Blair and Bush significant room for maneuver. But
there's no doubt the drive toward a full-scale invasion of Iraq has run into
a very rough patch in Britain.
Fred Feldman

TONY BLAIR is urging US President George W Bush to delay any war against
Iraq until the autumn to give UN weapons inspectors more time to obtain
clear evidence of Saddam Hussein's secret attempt to build up an illegal
arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.

The Prime Minister believes a spring offensive would be premature and would
not get the support of the United Nations Security Council.

Mr Blair is stressing to President Bush this would leave the UK and United
States isolated and could cause him problems with Labour MPs and public
opinion at home.

For the rest of the story:
http://www.voice4change.org/stories/showstory.asp?file=030110~clg.asp


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Rebel MPs deliver war ultimatum

Revolt looms if conflict has no UN backing

Michael White and Ewen MacAskill
Thursday January 9, 2003
The Guardian

The government is facing a hardening mood among Labour backbenchers against
an attack on Iraq with predictions that up to 100 MPs are preparing to rebel
and junior ministers could resign if war starts without UN backing.
Labour's chief whip, Hilary Armstrong, has passed on to Tony Blair growing
demands for evidence of any weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq, and a
new UN mandate to justify any attack. MPs are warning that the last time
Britain went to war divided - over Suez in 1956 - it ended with disaster and
Anthony Eden's fall from power.

"The mood has hardened over Christmas. Labour MPs don't trust George Bush an
d wonder why Tony is so close to him. And the weapons inspectors haven't
found anything. With a new UN resolution it [war] is manageable, but if Tony
wants to do anything without UN support there will be serious mega-trouble,"
one influential moderate said yesterday.

For the rest of the Story:
http://www.voice4change.org/stories/showstory.asp?file=030110~ufp.asp


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