Blair removes Straw - who opposed attack on Iran

We are being asked to believe that Jack Straw has been yearning for a career change, and is now excited by his new roll as leader of the Commons, replacing Geoff Hoon. Really.

Mr Straw's move was said to have come after he made it clear to Mr Blair that after years at the Home Office and then the Foreign Office he wanted a different role.

Mr Straw will also have responsibility for House of Lords reform, party funding, and will chair the cabinet's constitutional affairs committee.Link

It would seem more likely, given our neocon PM's fondness for military intervention and the adoration of US rightwingers including the leader of the free world, that Jack Straw's demise was brought about by his recognition that the occupants of the Whitehouse are barking mad. Perhaps he overstepped the line when he recently advised cabinet colleagues that it would be 'nuts' to consider a nuclear strike against Iran - an option that Bush has made clear remains 'on the table'.

Jack Straw has warned Cabinet colleagues that it would be illegal for Britain to support the United States in military action against Iran. But Tony Blair has backed President George Bush by warning that ruling out military action would send out a "message of weakness" to Iran.

Differences opened up yesterday between Mr Blair and the Foreign Secretary over growing alarm in the US at the refusal of Mr Bush to rule out military action. Mr Straw said on BBC Radio 4 that it was "inconceivable" that Britain would support a military strike against Tehran. Four hours later, Mr Blair refused to go that far when challenged to do so at Prime Minister's questions by the former minister, Michael Meacher.

Mr Blair accused Iran of fostering international terrorism, and said young people were signing up to be suicide bombers directed at US and UK targets. " I do not think this is the time to send a message of weakness," he said.

Mr Straw has told ministerial colleagues he does not believe that the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, would approve the legality of British action, because Iran does not pose a direct threat to Britain. Mr Straw also said it would be "nuts" to consider a nuclear strike.

The possibility of action against Iran threatens to resurrect the row over the basis on which Britain went to war in Iraq. The Attorney General became embroiled in the legal advice he gave to the Prime Minister over the war.Link

Blair has now brutally dispatched this relative voice of reason from his position of influence. And has thus sent out a message to all Labour careerists who might be considering - however briefly - opposing him in what appears to be a rerun of the lies and distortions that preceded the illegal invasion of Iraq.