“On March 18 [2003], the day after [President] Bush delivered his ultimatum [that Saddam and his sons had 48 hours to leave Iraq], [U.K. Prime Minister] Tony Blair staved off opposition from members of his own Labour Party and at last won the support of the House of Commons to disarm Iraq by ‘all means […]
Category: quotes
3/18/2003
As stated in “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry – Executive Summary:” “[UK] Parliamentary debate and vote on [the use of military action in] Iraq.” – Commissioned by the Prime Minister The Right Honourable Gordon Brown MP, “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry: Executive Summary,” IraqInquiry.org.uk, March 18, 2003 […]
3/18/2003
As stated in “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry – Executive Summary”: “285. The French President’s office issued a statement early 18 March stating that the US ultimatum was a unilateral decision going against the will of the international community who wanted to pursue Iraqi disarmament in accordance with resolution 1441. It stated: ‘… only the […]
3/18/2003
As stated in “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry – Executive Summary”: “286. On the evening of 18 March, the House of Commons passed by 412 votes to 149 a motion supporting ‘the decision of Her Majesty’s Government that the United Kingdom should use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq’s weapons of mass […]
3/18/2003
As stated in “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry – Executive Summary”: “328. Challenging Saddam Hussein’s ‘claim’ that he had no weapons of mass destruction, Mr Blair said in his speech on 18 March: -‘… we are asked to believe that after seven years of obstruction and non-compliance … he [Saddam Hussein] voluntarily decided to do […]
3/18/2003
As stated in “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry – Executive Summary:” “294. In his memoir, Mr Blair described his speech opening the debate on 18 March as ‘the most important speech I had ever made’. 295. Mr Blair framed the decision for the House of Commons as a ‘tough’ and ‘stark’ choice between ‘retreat’ and […]
3/18/2003
“On March 18, [2003,] he [Blair] made an impassioned speech to the House of Commons. He argued that force was the only answer to Saddam, saying: “The only persuasive power to which he responds is 250,000 allied troops on his doorstep.” The House of Commons voted for war 412 to 149.” – Andrew Langley, Bush, […]
3/17/2003
In his resignation speech on March 17, 2003, British House of Commons leader Robin Cook said that due to the policy of containment: “Iraq’s military strength is now less than half its size than at the time of the last Gulf War [January 1991].” – Robin Cook, The Point of Departure, Page 363 […]
3/17/2003
As stated in “The Report of the Iraq Inquiry – Executive Summary:” “278. A specially convened [UK] Cabinet at 1600 on 17 March 2003 endorsed the decision that the diplomatic process was now at the end and Saddam Hussein should be give an ultimatum to leave Iraq; and that the House of Commons would be asked […]
3/17/2003
In his resignation speech on March 17, 2003, House of Commons leader Robin Cook said: “What has come to trouble me most over past weeks is the suspicion that if the hanging chads in Florida had gone the other way and Al Gore had been elected, we would not now be about to commit British […]