Blair delivers call to arms on Iraq

8.20am

BLACKPOOL - British Prime Minister Tony Blair is seeking to quash a political mutiny at home and win over wary allies abroad with his toughest call to arms against Iraq.

In a speech to trade union leaders, including some of the harshest critics of Blair's hawkish stance, the prime minister warned that "action will follow" if Saddam ignores international demands to disarm and admit United Nations weapons inspectors.

Calling Iraqi President Saddam Hussein an "international outlaw", Blair said unless the world faced up the threat from Baghdad, it would sooner or later "erupt and engulf us".

Blair's speech this morning (NZT) was aimed primarily at winning over sceptics at home, above all in his own left-leaning Labour Party.

Opinion polls suggest a majority of the country are opposed to joining the Americans in an assault on Iraq without a UN Security Council mandate.

Blair's speech also set the stage for an international diplomatic push by Washington and London among nervous allies to win support for military action.

"Let it be clear that he (Saddam) must be disarmed," Blair told the trade unionists' annual seaside congress.

"Let it be clear that there can be no more conditions, no more games, no more prevaricating, no more undermining of the UN's authority," he added. "And let it be clear that should the will of the UN be ignored, action will follow."

Blair, who met George W. Bush on Saturday, has been the staunchest international supporter of Washington's calls for action against Saddam, an issue that has threatened to create a rift between Blair and more sceptical European leaders.

The US president, apparently heeding calls from friends such as Blair not to go it alone, is to lay out his case to the UN General Assembly on Thursday. But Blair said a diplomatic effort must be accompanied by the threat of military strikes.

"Diplomacy is vital. But when dealing with dictators -- and none in the world is worse than Saddam -- diplomacy has to be backed by the certain knowledge in the dictator's mind that behind the diplomacy is the possibility of force being used."

Trade unionists, who traditionally support the Labour Party, have been among the most vocal critics of Blair's Iraq policy and voted on Monday to oppose any attack without a UN mandate.

Seeking to douse the doubts, Blair said the UN "must be the way to resolve the threat from Saddam". But he also warned against using the world organisation as an excuse to delay.

"...If we do not deal with the threat from this international outlaw and his barbaric regime, it may not erupt and engulf us this month or next, perhaps not even this year or the next, but it will at some point," he said.

"And I do not want it on my conscience that we knew the threat, saw it coming and did nothing."

Some had predicted a rough ride for Blair at the congress, after union leaders opposed to force in Iraq delivered fiery speeches yesterday. But Blair's address was heard with cautious silence and concluded to warm applause. Only one heckler shouted out as he sat down.

Blair also promised to give parliament an opportunity to discuss Iraq before any troops were committed.

"Before there is any question of taking military action, I can categorically assure you that parliament will be consulted and will have the fullest opportunity to debate the matter and express its view," he said.

Parliamentarians opposed to military action have called for the chamber to be recalled from its summer recess to debate Iraq, and one Labour Party member even made a failed bid to rent out the House of Commons for an unofficial debate.

Trade Unions Congress general secretary John Monks called Blair's emphasis on the UN as the primary means of resolving the crisis a "welcome change" from the more hawkish elements within the White House.

- REUTERS

Further reading:
Feature: War with Iraq

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