The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
455.
Mr Blair
set out seven principles to guide the UK. The first was that the
UK:
“… should
remain the closest ally of the US, and as allies to influence them
to
continue
broadening their agenda. We are an ally of the US not because they
are
powerful,
but because we share their values … Anti‑Americanism … is a
foolish
indulgence.
For all their faults and all nations have them, the US are a force
for
good …
“… it is
massively in our self‑interest to remain close allies
…
“But we
should use this alliance to good effect … People listen to the US …
they
want the US
to listen back.
“So for the
international community, the MEPP is … important … the
UN
is important.
“The US
choice to go through the UN over Iraq was a vital step, in itself
and
as a symbol
of the desire to work with others …
“The price
of British influence is not … to do what the US asks. I would never
commit
British
troops to a war I thought was wrong or unnecessary. Where we
disagree …
we
disagree.
“But the
price of influence is that we do not leave the US to face tricky
issues
alone. By
tricky, I mean the ones which people wish weren’t there, don’t want
to
deal with,
and … know the US should confront … So if the US act alone, they
are
unilateralist …
International terrorism is one such issue … WMD is another
…
[A]t my
first meeting with President Bush I said this was the key issue
facing the
international
community. I believe this even more today … But no one can doubt
the
salience of
WMD … and the importance of countering it …
“So when as
with Iraq, the international community through the UN makes a
demand
on a regime
to disarm itself of WMD and that regime refuses, that regime
threatens
us. It may
be uncomfortable … unless the world takes a stand on this issue of
WMD
and sends
out a clear signal, we will rue the consequences of our
weakness.
“America
should not be forced to take on this issue alone. We should be part
of it.
Of course
it should go through the UN – that was our wish and what the US
did.
But if
the will of the UN is breached then the will should be
enforced.
“Jack Straw
has today set out for Parliament … our policy objectives on
Iraq.
“So when
the US confront these issues, we should be with them, and we
should,
in return,
expect these issues to be confronted with the international
community,
proportionately,
sensibly and in a way that delivers a better prospect of
long‑term
peace,
security and justice.”
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