Blair Colludes with Bush in Planning War against Iraq

Workers' Daily Internet Edition : Article Index :

Blair Colludes with Bush in Planning War against Iraq

No to Aggression against Iraq! Not In Our Name!

British Warships in Suez Canal

Letter to the Editor:
Tower Hamlets Strike

US imperialist chieftain George Bush will hold a summit meeting with the British government Prime Minister Tony Blair in Washington in April, according to the Observer. The aim is to put the final touches to plans to carry out a military action against Iraq.

A Number 10 spokesperson told the paper, "The meeting will be to finalise Phase Two of the war against terrorism," and that "action against Iraq will be at the top of the agenda", adding that Blair will show evidence of Iraq's capabilities in the nuclear field. The Downing Street office refused to discuss Blair’s movements but a spokesman signalled Britain would continue its steadfast support for the United States' "war on terror", even if it was widened to encompass Iraq. "It was a 'public persuasion' issue," and that evidence will be shown that "Saddam is attempting to amass rudimentary nuclear capabilities and is also investigating a way to launch 'dirty' nuclear bombs," the Observer said.

However, "Intelligence officials in Britain have told the Observer that there is concern about over-committing in Iraq and of making military promises that cannot be kept."

This comes amid similar military concern made by officials in the US Pentagon to the daily Washington Post saying, "Our objectives in Iraq can only be met with forces on the ground." The Washington Post reported that "the military reality is that it could take up to a year before the United States is ready to launch a co-ordinated assault likely to achieve the administration's goals of destroying Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capability and replacing Hussein's regime". The Washington Post quoted sources as saying "the White House believes that complete, unqualified success in any campaign against Iraq is far more crucial – politically, militarily and diplomatically – than the need to act quickly in the absence of an immediate provocation". And that "much of the rest of the world, including countries whose support is seen as critical, remains sceptical or openly hostile to a direct attack". The Washington Post said "the administration has developed a strategy of short- and long-term actions designed to ensure that all the elements it sees as necessary for success eventually will converge".

Tony Blair, at a gathering of "centre-left" government leaders in Sweden on Saturday said the United States was already consulting fully and openly. "The Americans are absolutely right to emphasise the continuing importance of the war against terrorism and...the elimination of weapons of mass destruction," he said.

The Observer said the government was planning to publish evidence detailing Iraq's nuclear capabilities to quell criticism from its backbenches and to reassure the public. Donald Anderson, head of parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee, told BBC Television Bush was behaving like a "wild west" sheriff. "When the time of trial...comes, the sheriff will look around and there won't be any deputies there," he said.

Reports show that US imperialism and the British government are turning their attention to Iraq. Despite growing rifts in the "coalition" against "international terrorism", Tony Blair remains the main champion and ideologue of pursuing the spurious "war against terrorism" by aggression.

Not only taking the world towards catastrophe, Anglo-US imperialism is heading towards catastrophe itself if it launches such a war of aggression.

Anglo-US imperialism is using the Hitlerite method of creating pretexts for such a war, just as it has done in central Asia. The "New World Order" was launched in 1991 with the Gulf War, and is becoming increasingly desperate at this time as the other big powers are increasingly opposed to the imposition of a unipolar world, and the world’s people are stepping up their opposition to aggression and intervention.

The recent revelations about the disinformation campaign that the Bush administration has been planning puts the British government’s claims that it is a "public persuasion issue" to widen the war to Iraq in perspective. The Anglo-American imperialists have their strategic aims, and the whole state machine is to be put into their service. Despite the fact that in the years since the Gulf War it has been proved time and again that there are no "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq, this has become the pretext for renewed aggression.

The demonisation of Saddam Hussein and drawing parallels with Hitler will not wash. The issue with Hitler was not that he was an incarnation of evil, but that he represented the tool of finance capital to wipe out communism and impose the most reactionary culture and ideology on the world. If the parallel is to be drawn today, it is the Anlgo-American imperialists on whom the mantle of Hitler falls.

All the "humanitarian" talk of Tony Blair cannot conceal that his banner of "interdependence" of the world stands for unjust intervention and aggression. The working class and people must continue to develop their struggles against state terrorism, aggression and war.

Not to Aggression against Iraq! Not In Our Name!

Three British warships on Sunday crossed the Suez Canal to join the US-led multi-national forces in the Indian Ocean participating in the "war against terror", canal sources said.

Britain's largest warship, the HMS Ocean helicopter carrier, accompanied by a frigate and a supply ship, passed through the canal and was on its way to the destination to replace the HMS Illustrious as the flag ship in Britain's naval buildup there.

Dear Editor,

A borough wide strike by most of the Tower Hamlets staff has been called for February 28, due to management proposals to changes in the personnel procedures. There will be a rally for all strikers and supporters at 11 am at a venue yet to be announced.

Picket lines will be at the four transport depots from about 7 am onwards at the Blackwall Yard, Leamouth Road E14, Cambridge Heath Road E2 (next to the rent office), Bethnal Green Yard, Salmons Lane (Wilsons Place) Poplar E14 Yard and Toby Lane (Off Harford Street). All support would be most welcome. As you know most striking workers are really vilified in the popular press.

This strike has been called by UNISON. The branch secretary is Jean Geldart. The office phone number is 0208 983 0637, fax 0208 983 3163 and e-mail towerhamlets@unisonfree.net

Thanks for any help given.