Blair: 'We are not going to invade Iran'
scotsman: Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday ruled out an invasion of Iran and said any suggestion of a nuclear strike on the country was "absolutely absurd".
Iran has been referred to the U.N. Security Council over fears it is building nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies. Washington says it would prefer a diplomatic solution to the crisis but warns sanctions and military strikes are options.
"I don't know anybody who has even talked or contemplated the prospect of a nuclear strike on Iran. That would be absolutely absurd," Blair told a regular monthly news conference.
There has been widespread media speculation that differences over how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme were behind Blair's decision to axe Foreign Minister Jack Straw last week in a major government reshuffle.
Blair replaced Straw with former Environment Minister Margaret Beckett.
"The idea I moved Jack because of Iran ... because the Americans objected to him ... (is) rubbish," Blair said.
"Any notion that it is linked to a decision about invading Iran -- which incidentally we are not going to do -- any notion that it is linked to such a decision is utterly absurd."
The prime minister said Britain's foreign policy under Beckett, who has earned an international profile in climate change talks, would not shift direction.
"I chose Margaret because she is an outstanding politician and a very, very safe pair of hands," said Blair. "I have absolutely no doubt that the foreign policy that was articulated by Jack will not change one iota under Margaret." Link
db: "Any notion that it is linked to a decision about invading Iran -- which incidentally we are not going to do....."
An invasion of Iran by the UK is and always would be suicide - quite different to invading - on America's coattails - the already broken Iraq. Few commentators would suggest the US intends a ground invasion either - for obvious reasons - they couldn't do it without a draft and the casualties would be politically unsustainable [the thing about a draft is that it effects all classes - including the sons and daughters of politicians and their corporate sponsors].
Military action against Iran has not been ruled out by Blair above - as things stand an air bombardment by the US is the most likely outcome - Blair will be under enormous pressure from his US neocon friends to offer some sort of support. Nothing above rules that out.
"The idea I moved Jack because of Iran ... because the Americans objected to him ... (is) rubbish,"
Were the American complaints about Straw, and Blair's own frustration with him over Iran a factor? In Margaret Beckett Blair has a loyalist in place who is bound to do his bidding without much protest. If over the course of the coming weeks policy on Iran hardens we will understand why.
"I don't know anybody who has even talked or contemplated the prospect of a nuclear strike on Iran. That would be absolutely absurd,"
April 18th 2006 - Asked if options included planning for a nuclear strike, Bush replied: "All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so."
'Speculation about a U.S. attack has mounted since a report in New Yorker magazine said this [last] month that Washington was mulling the option of using tactical nuclear weapons to knock out Iran's subterranean nuclear sites'.Link
Iran has been referred to the U.N. Security Council over fears it is building nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies. Washington says it would prefer a diplomatic solution to the crisis but warns sanctions and military strikes are options.
"I don't know anybody who has even talked or contemplated the prospect of a nuclear strike on Iran. That would be absolutely absurd," Blair told a regular monthly news conference.
There has been widespread media speculation that differences over how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme were behind Blair's decision to axe Foreign Minister Jack Straw last week in a major government reshuffle.
Blair replaced Straw with former Environment Minister Margaret Beckett.
"The idea I moved Jack because of Iran ... because the Americans objected to him ... (is) rubbish," Blair said.
"Any notion that it is linked to a decision about invading Iran -- which incidentally we are not going to do -- any notion that it is linked to such a decision is utterly absurd."
The prime minister said Britain's foreign policy under Beckett, who has earned an international profile in climate change talks, would not shift direction.
"I chose Margaret because she is an outstanding politician and a very, very safe pair of hands," said Blair. "I have absolutely no doubt that the foreign policy that was articulated by Jack will not change one iota under Margaret." Link
db: "Any notion that it is linked to a decision about invading Iran -- which incidentally we are not going to do....."
An invasion of Iran by the UK is and always would be suicide - quite different to invading - on America's coattails - the already broken Iraq. Few commentators would suggest the US intends a ground invasion either - for obvious reasons - they couldn't do it without a draft and the casualties would be politically unsustainable [the thing about a draft is that it effects all classes - including the sons and daughters of politicians and their corporate sponsors].
Military action against Iran has not been ruled out by Blair above - as things stand an air bombardment by the US is the most likely outcome - Blair will be under enormous pressure from his US neocon friends to offer some sort of support. Nothing above rules that out.
"The idea I moved Jack because of Iran ... because the Americans objected to him ... (is) rubbish,"
Were the American complaints about Straw, and Blair's own frustration with him over Iran a factor? In Margaret Beckett Blair has a loyalist in place who is bound to do his bidding without much protest. If over the course of the coming weeks policy on Iran hardens we will understand why.
"I don't know anybody who has even talked or contemplated the prospect of a nuclear strike on Iran. That would be absolutely absurd,"
April 18th 2006 - Asked if options included planning for a nuclear strike, Bush replied: "All options are on the table. We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we're working hard to do so."
'Speculation about a U.S. attack has mounted since a report in New Yorker magazine said this [last] month that Washington was mulling the option of using tactical nuclear weapons to knock out Iran's subterranean nuclear sites'.Link
posted by exoplanet at 5:53 PM
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