The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
633.
Mr Blair’s
subsequent statement to the House of Commons focused on
the
discussions
with President Bush on the crisis in the Middle East.
634.
On Iraq, Mr
Blair reiterated his statements that decisions would
be
“sensible”,
and that the House of Commons would have a proper
opportunity
to debate
them before action was taken.
635.
Mr Blair
assured Parliament that the question of whether action in
respect
of Iraq
would have the backing of international law would be considered
“very
carefully”;
but that the time to debate any legal basis was when such
action
was taken.
636.
Mr Blair’s
statement to the House of Commons on 10 April concentrated on
the
crisis in
the Middle East.241
637.
Addressing
Iraq in the context of stability in the Middle East Mr Blair
stated:
“There will
be many occasions on which to debate Saddam Hussein’s
flagrant
breach of
successive UN resolutions on his weapons of mass destruction …
[His]
regime is
despicable, he is developing weapons of mass destruction, and we
cannot
leave him
doing so unchecked. He is a threat to his own people and to the
region
and, if
allowed to develop these weapons, a threat to us also.
“Doing
nothing is not an option … [W]hat the international community
should do
through the
UN is challenge Saddam to let the inspectors back in without
restriction
… If he
really has nothing to hide, let him prove it.
“… no
decisions on action have been taken. Our way of proceeding should
be and
will be
measured, calm and thought through. When judgements are made, I
shall
ensure the
House has a full opportunity to debate them.”
638.
Mr Charles
Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, stated that the issue of
Iraq:
“… crosses
the political spectrum – there is genuine unease in the Labour
party,
among the
Liberal Democrats and perhaps in sections of the Conservative
party
… that
unease is a reflection of genuine and sincerely held shades of
opinion
throughout
the country. Therefore, as a result of his discussions with
President
Bush, will
the Prime Minister acknowledge that no country can conduct a
foreign
policy on
the basis of ‘my ally, right or wrong’? Although I am not implying
that the
Government
are seeking to do so, there is a need for discernment. Many of us
hope
that the
Government may be able to temper some of the ideas of the
American
Administration
…”
241
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 10 April
2002, columns 22-38.
504