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Iraq
UK dismisses Iraq’s nerve gas move
2003-03-15
The government today dismissed Iraq's lie submission to UN weapons inspectors that it had destroyed its stocks of VX nerve agent 12 years ago. The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, and the Labour party chairman, John Reid, both cast scorn doubt on Baghdad's 25-page lie report, delivered to Has Blix earlier today.
"Pull the other leg, Mr. Blix."
Mr Straw told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "At each stage what Iraq does is introduce lies concessions which are cynically calculated and calibrated to be the minimum possible to create disunity diversion and doubt discussion in the international community, but to avoid enforcement against them." Mr Reid said that Iraq's submission on the VX nerve agent was "just more lies game playing". Speaking to the party's eastern conference in Clacton, Essex, Mr Reid said: "If he (Saddam) had disposed of this material why wasn't it in the original declaration?"
Three guesses, and the first two don't count.
The party chairman added: "Kofi Annan has already said that 'If Iraq's defiance continues, the security council must face its responsibilities'.
Kofi: "We must then debate some more! Iraq will surely come to its senses if it sees how serious we are about debating this to death!"
"It was therefore doubly disappointing to hear the Weasel French chief designated apologist foreign minister last night say: 'We will not let the undecided countries take responsibility for the vote.'
"Mon dieu! No one should take responsibility!"
"Is it any wonder that it is proving so difficult to reach agreement on a second resolution?" Mr Reid echoed the foreign secretary's insistence that war without a fresh resolution would still be legal. "While there is a legal base under 1441 and previous resolutions, we are working for a new security council resolution, because we want the world to stay united on this, to preserve UN unity and maximise pressure on Chirac Saddam. "If as a result of Iraqi non-compliance and French intransigence that is not possible, then it makes the diplomacy very, very difficult. But we will continue to work hard to change minds and get that second resolution."
"Until George says, 'let's roll'."
Posted by:Steve White

#3  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-03-15 21:21:57  

#2  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2003-03-15 19:06:33  

#1  comments); ?>werwer
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-03-15 13:53:03  

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