English fumes over lack of Iraq debate

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

National Party leader Bill English wants the Government to set aside time so Parliament can debate the Iraq situation.

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen offered to give up time set aside on Wednesday to debate the Budget policy statement for a debate on Iraq.

But Mr English said it was "an arrogant offer".

He said Dr Cullen made it the day after Prime Minister Helen Clark appeared in media statements to oppose the draft resolution proposed by the United States and Britain, which would have the force of the Security Council sanctioning war against Iraq.

Mr English said she wanted to avoid debate because she was trying not to offend the United States.

Yesterday, he said he did not rate highly his chances of getting a debate this week because of the visit on Saturday of Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a close ally of United States President George Bush.

"She'll be trying to avoid sounding like a peacenik before John Howard's visit."



"It is anti-democratic to be avoiding the debate, particularly when there is potential to have broad support in the Parliament for the deployment that is going on," he said.

He was referring to the deployment of a New Zealand frigate and a promised Orion for anti-terrorism patrols in the Gulf of Oman.



The Green Party wants the Government to withdraw its invitation to Mr Howard to make the visit at the weekend.

Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said it was "an obscenity that Helen Clark and her senior ministers would meet Howard days before the 'coalition of the willing' could launch the first missiles on Baghdad".

"The New Zealand Government has consistently refused to use its vaunted 'friendship' with America to lobby Bush against this war."

It now had the opportunity to do so by telling "America's South Pacific proxy" he was not welcome.



Also yesterday, the prospect of war against Iraq brought protesters to the Whenuapai Air Force base.

As police officers stood in a row behind them a small group of demonstrators held placards and condemned the war over a loudhailer.

They objected to plans to send an Orion to the Gulf.

The Government says the Orion would be part of surveillance efforts against terrorists, but the protesters said it would still contribute to the US war on Iraq and would result in innocent civilians suffering.

The story so far

* Security Council Resolution 1441 (November 2002) gave Iraq a last chance to disclose any weapons of mass destruction or face "serious consequences".

* A new US-UK draft resolution sets the stage for war by stating that the Security Council "decides Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in Resolution 1441".

* To pass, the US and UK must secure nine votes from the 15-member Security Council and prevent China, Russia or France exercising their veto.

* A counter-initiative by France, Germany and Russia would extend weapons inspection by about four months.

* Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, due to address the council late this week, has welcomed the destruction by Iraq of the first al-Samound 2 missiles

- additional reporting: Catherine Masters