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Innocent
Iraqi civilians will fall victims to any U.S. attack on Iraq
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LONDON,
September 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – In a new blow to U.S.
plans to strike Iraq, British government Minister Robin Cook warned that
any war against Iraq must have broad international support, according to
a British paper Saturday, September 21, 2002.
"It's
important that any action taken on Iraq is one that does have
international support," Cook, who is leader of the House of
Commons, told The Daily Telegraph.
"What
we need to do is to build the broadest possible coalition and make sure
that it is (Iraqi leader) Saddam (Hussein), and not us, that is isolated
in international opinion," added Cook, who was replaced as Foreign
Secretary by the more hawkish Jack Straw 15 months ago.
Cook
put himself at
the head of the Cabinet doves on Iraq by warning Tony Blair not to
go it alone with President George W. Bush in seeking to topple Saddam
Hussein, according to the newspaper.
Straw
and British Prime Minister Tony Blair strongly back U.S. President
George W. Bush's position on Iraq, despite widespread public reluctance
for Britain to join a conflict that lacks a clear UN endorsement.
A
British lady on Tuesday, September 17, refused to pay her taxes in full,
in protest over plans to strike Iraq. “I do not want my tax money to
help fund an unjustified war that will lead to killing innocent
civilians in Iraq,” the 80-year-old British lady said.
Cook
made it clear that any British involvement must have the full authority
of the United Nations. It should also be limited to removing weapons of
mass destruction and not involve regime change, the paper reported.
"I
am quite clear that weapons of mass destruction have to be controlled
and that it is not right to allow weapons of mass destruction to remain
in the hands of people who have proved in the past, as Saddam has, that
he's willing to use them. How you go about that is then the issue,"
Cook added.
"Our
concern is to make sure the weapons of mass destruction are dealt with
and that the resolutions of the United Nations are implemented."
Cook
said parliament should be allowed a vote on any decision by Blair for
Britain to go to war.
"Parliament
is a democratic chamber. The whole point of a democratic chamber is that
people should be free to express their views, both in debate and
division," he said.
The
Commons is recalled Tuesday, September 24, for a one-day debate on Iraq
- to be preceded by the release of a dossier that Blair hopes will
convince skeptical Britons of the need to take a hard line against
Saddam and his reputed pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.
As
leader of the Commons, the lower house of parliament, Cook is
responsible for organizing the government's legislative agenda.
