Iraq Inquiry Vote in Parliament
The first debate on Iraq on the floor of the House of Commons for two years took place this evening on a motion calling for an inquiry into the build up to the invasion and its aftermath. The proposal was for a committee to be established of Privy Counsellors who would investigate and receive evidence on the wide range of issues and concerns about what is increasingly being recognised as a policy disaster of the Prime Minister's making, for which thousand upon thousand of Iraqi people are paying for with their lives.
My main concern was to use this debate to press the Government to bring forward a clear programme for the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq. Of course it is important to know what happened, how and why, but more important is the question of what is going to happen from now on.
The Government line of staying "until the job is done" is clearly no longer feasible. It is now widely accepted that the occupying forces are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
I was hoping that this debate would provide the Government with the opportunity to outline its exit strategy to help move the situation forward from the chaotic daily bloodbath that is now Iraq.
I believe that this exit strategy should include:
An announcement of a timetable for immediate withdrawal of UK forces.
A return to the UN and the launching of an appeal to the international community for assistance in peacekeeping and transitional arrangements.
A rehabilitation of Britain's role in international affairs by the UK government convening with our EU partners an international peace conference for the Middle East, including Israel and Palestine.
I was also hoping that today's debate would rise above the usual tribal, partisan bickering of the Commons but of course it didn't and we are no further forward in properly addressing the future of Iraq. The Government celebrated defeating the motion to call for an inquiry with a majority of 25.
Then within hours the Secretary of State for Defence stated that an inquiry will eventually take place but within minutes he is denounced and overridden by Downing Street. What absolute chaos in government.
I then get home and watch more scenes of casualties in Iraq, including young children killed and wounded who were just members of a wedding party.
Rather than despair it is critical that the campaign for withdrawal goes on and the campaigning to restore the Labour Party as a party of peace continues with increased commitment and vigour.
Many have made comparisons with the Suez crisis of the 1950s. Suez was a break in history that marked the confirmation that Britain could no longer play the role of an imperial, world power. If anything of value is to come out of the disaster of Iraq it may be the recognition that the days of Britain being an agressive military force are over.
Instead Britain could now become a world leader in the promotion of peace, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Britain has shown what a skilful player for peace it has become in the role it has played in Northern Ireland. What a service our country could povide the world as a major force for peace
My main concern was to use this debate to press the Government to bring forward a clear programme for the withdrawal of British forces from Iraq. Of course it is important to know what happened, how and why, but more important is the question of what is going to happen from now on.
The Government line of staying "until the job is done" is clearly no longer feasible. It is now widely accepted that the occupying forces are part of the problem and not part of the solution.
I was hoping that this debate would provide the Government with the opportunity to outline its exit strategy to help move the situation forward from the chaotic daily bloodbath that is now Iraq.
I believe that this exit strategy should include:
An announcement of a timetable for immediate withdrawal of UK forces.
A return to the UN and the launching of an appeal to the international community for assistance in peacekeeping and transitional arrangements.
A rehabilitation of Britain's role in international affairs by the UK government convening with our EU partners an international peace conference for the Middle East, including Israel and Palestine.
I was also hoping that today's debate would rise above the usual tribal, partisan bickering of the Commons but of course it didn't and we are no further forward in properly addressing the future of Iraq. The Government celebrated defeating the motion to call for an inquiry with a majority of 25.
Then within hours the Secretary of State for Defence stated that an inquiry will eventually take place but within minutes he is denounced and overridden by Downing Street. What absolute chaos in government.
I then get home and watch more scenes of casualties in Iraq, including young children killed and wounded who were just members of a wedding party.
Rather than despair it is critical that the campaign for withdrawal goes on and the campaigning to restore the Labour Party as a party of peace continues with increased commitment and vigour.
Many have made comparisons with the Suez crisis of the 1950s. Suez was a break in history that marked the confirmation that Britain could no longer play the role of an imperial, world power. If anything of value is to come out of the disaster of Iraq it may be the recognition that the days of Britain being an agressive military force are over.
Instead Britain could now become a world leader in the promotion of peace, conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Britain has shown what a skilful player for peace it has become in the role it has played in Northern Ireland. What a service our country could povide the world as a major force for peace
posted by John at 12:43 AM
10 Comments:
Thanks for a positive focus after last night's disappointing result. We must keep up the pressure on the Government.
I watched the Iraq debate yesterday. It was dismal to see so few people, particularly from the labour side, there in the House. According to the papers today, only 12 Labour MPs rebelled.There are 24 MPs in the Campaign group alone and I would have thought most of them would have supported the motion. So where were the Labour Mps with the guts to stand firm. ??? Wider Principles should stand above partisan party loyalty. It's all very disheartening for those of us who are hoping for a resurgence of Labour values, peace and socialism. Any thoughts on that, John?
With only eleven other Labour MPs joining you in opposing the Government last night, I'd like to know if this is officially the end of your campaign ...
Mark Fisher made an important point during the debate about the constitutional implications of the Iraq fiasco. The legislature must be able to check the executive, especially when the prime minister operates a "sofa government" of hand-picked advisors so he can ignore the formal mechanisms of the cabinet, civil service and so on...
Richard Barbrook
Hi John,
I certainly think you were right to vote for an inquiry in to the war, as the US/UK clearly had no plan for what to do once they'd removed Hussein and dismantled his police state.
Now we have US/UK troops fighting against Ba'athist and Islamist death squads, and trying to police the sectarian attacks between the differing militias.
I'm slightly puzzled by this though. You call for:
"An announcement of a timetable for immediate withdrawal of UK forces."
Do you want a timetable for withdrawal, or immediate withdrawal? It's one or the other, isn't it?
Hi John,
I certainly think you were right to vote for an inquiry in to the war, as the US/UK clearly had no plan for what to do once they'd removed Hussein and dismantled his police state.
Now we have US/UK troops fighting against Ba'athist and Islamist death squads, and trying to police the sectarian attacks between the differing militias.
I'm slightly puzzled by this though. You call for:
"An announcement of a timetable for immediate withdrawal of UK forces."
Do you want a timetable for withdrawal, or immediate withdrawal? It's one or the other, isn't it?
Having been painted into a corner on Iraq, I wouldn't care to be in the shoes of the Foreign Secretary at this time, someone drew the short straw :-).
John's solution is to be recommended and is probably the only one that will work. Building bridges with Europe is not going to be easy. Middle East reconciliation even more difficult. I read a couple of weeks ago, that someone suggested bringing Iran and Syria to the table, I expect that will be a bitter pill for the ministry to swallow.
First step for Britain to become that world force for peace: let's welcome all peacemakers to rejoin the party and lend their support to John.
John,
Keep up the good work but I can't help thinking; with only 11 Labour MPs voting with yourself, is there any hope in the party?
It's probable that few will have the courage of their convictions after the bad press we had in late summer. It will be a different story in the new year and when the step down date is published.
Voting for an inquiry now is wrong- we should not tell the enemy our weaknesses. Also it is another exapmle of John mcDonnell voting with the Tories. Is this what it has come to?
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