Blair coming to his senses; looking for way out

[vinnieponte]

If only dubya could open his eyes and jump on with Blair. Seems more and more countries are starting to realize the mistake they made by going along with dubya and his lies. And I know all you republicans will rip Blair apart which is the funniest thing, seeing how you guys have been holding his hand and preaching about him this whole time, since he was americas best friend since the war started. And I can guarantee that he wont be re-elected!


Blair hopes Iraq elections will give British exit strategy

Thu Jan 27, 6:11 AM ET Mideast - AFP


LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who lost credibility for joining the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, may find Iraq's general elections offer him an exit strategy, analysts say.

Iraq has haunted Blair for months.


In the last few days, the trial of three British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqi civilians has put him against the ropes while he attempts to concentrate on domestic policy ahead of general elections expected in May.


Despite the ongoing violence, Blair has vigorously defended plans to go ahead with Iraq's elections on Sunday for an assembly that will draft a new constitution.


"It's an exit strategy. It's getting out without appearing to have lost," British political analyst Paul Whiteley told AFP. "They (the British government) want a reasonably stable government so they can leave."


Last week, the Daily Telegraph said London had pushed Washington to establish a timetable for the pullout of troops from Iraq.


Blair did not give any firm dates for bringing home some 9,000 British troops, but said London and Washington would have a better idea of when to withdraw after the vote on Sunday.


"Both ourselves and the Iraqis want us to leave as soon as possible," Blair told the Financial Times. "The question is what is 'as soon as possible'. And the answer to that is: when the Iraqi forces have the capability to do the job."


Rosemary Hollis, who heads the Middle East studies department at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, said "the election is opening the way forward, they don't have any other way forward."


She said "they've got themselves in a very difficult situation" as the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and neighboring countries are in no position to assume the burden of restoring stability to Iraq.


If the elections are successful, they will help justify the invasion in the name of promoting democracy, according to George Jones, a veteran analyst at the London School of Economics.


A poll on Tuesday showed that 47 percent of Britons are opposed to the war in Iraq, which has claimed the lives of 76 British troops.

"It will affect the way some people vote in the general election," according to Wyn Grant, a political scientist at Warwick University.


British Muslims, for example, have not forgiven Blair's decision to join the occupation of Iraq.


"They will either abstain or switch to the Liberal Democrats or the Greens or whatever," he said.


"The Iraqi elections are central to the government's ability to find some way out. They are not central to the domestic debate" in the run-up to the elections in Britain, Grant said.

Between now and then, he hopes to make people forget Iraq and revive his standing with events like a conference on the Palestinian question, which is scheduled for early March in London.

Hollis said Labour backbenchers "feeling bruised over Iraq, say he'd better do something about Palestine."

[reeds]

Exit strategy??? BUSH has never had a clue how to exit that country..maybe when the death toll reaches 2500 American soldiers killed, it will ring a few bells..but, I doubt it

[FishForLunch]

I am sure Hillary will listen to your rantings when she becomes the President in 2009

[dude1394]

As usual, this is no more than bush has said, but because it's not bush then it's some sort of inspiration, at least by the leftists.

[reeds]

"I am sure Hillary will listen to your rantings when she becomes the President in 2009"

Who knows, Bush may be out of the office before then....

[dude1394]

Maybe if leftists are allowed to get close to him. Since the dems and the leftists are the ones promoting most of the violence in our domestic political disagreements.

[reeds]

Promoting violence?? BUSH is the biggest promoter of violence this country has EVER seen..1200 soldiers families will agree...you neoconservative pro wars people who sit there and praise the WAR, not once giving a rip about the US death toll rising.. after all- its all part of what war is right?? They knew of the dangers before they enlisted right?? WHAT BS...and you have the gall to say we promote violence...

[mavsman55]

Originally posted by: reeds
Exit strategy??? BUSH has never had a clue how to exit that country..maybe when the death toll reaches 2500 American soldiers killed, it will ring a few bells..but, I doubt it

Are you sure of this? Are you aware of every single plan and strategy the US military is using right now?

When you, a civilian, say this kind of stuff and claim that you know more about strategy than high-ranking military officers about our plan it makes you look pretty stupid.

[#1MavsFan]

Originally posted by: dude1394
Maybe if leftists are allowed to get close to him. Since the dems and the leftists are the ones promoting most of the violence in our domestic political disagreements.

You've lost it. Start a pointless and idiotic war and watch hundreds of thousands of people die (including iraqi civilians) and than call the people that questioned the war killers. It amazes me how ill advised you are.

[dude1394]

Not calling them killers perse, hyperbole, yes. But it is pretty documented that most of the election/political violence in our past election was perpetrated by leftist dems.

[reeds]

"You've lost it. Start a pointless and idiotic war and watch hundreds of thousands of people die (including iraqi civilians) and than call the people that questioned the war killers. It amazes me how ill advised you are."

That is EXACTALLY how the right operates. War mongers who point fingers. Neo-conservatives who LUV war but dont really give a rip about the casualties-after all, its part of the game.. same old same old..rednecks

[mavsman55]

Originally posted by: reeds
"You've lost it. Start a pointless and idiotic war and watch hundreds of thousands of people die (including iraqi civilians) and than call the people that questioned the war killers. It amazes me how ill advised you are."

That is EXACTALLY how the right operates. War mongers who point fingers. Neo-conservatives who LUV war but dont really give a rip about the casualties-after all, its part of the game.. same old same old..rednecks

For a liberal reeds, I hope you know that you're very hateful and prejudiced against people who think differently than you.

I can generalize too. If republicans are all war-loving rednecks, democrats are pot-smoking hippies who protest for the fun of it. There.

And on top of that, for a husband and father you spell like a 10 year old kid.

[reeds]

How long has this bullshit war been going on? Or when was it declared over? I still havent heard an exit stratagy??????????? He may give one tonight, but even if he does, that should have been planned LONG LONG ago.....another BUSH blunder

[reeds]

"And on top of that, for a husband and father you spell like a 10 year old kid. "




ile bee sur to uze spiel chek nexxt tyme...DORK

[mavsman55]

Originally posted by: reeds
How long has this bullshit war been going on? Or when was it declared over? I still havent heard an exit stratagy??????????? He may give one tonight, but even if he does, that should have been planned LONG LONG ago.....another BUSH blunder

This is dodging my question. The truth is, you have absolutely no idea whether or not there is an exit strategy. However I wouldn't be surprised if something was worked out in the year and a half it took to plan this war.

Maybe we're not exiting cause we're not done yet.... hmmmm...

[dude1394]

The exit strategy is to stand up the iraqi security forces so they can defend their own country. Every liberal knows it, they just don't like it unless it involves retreat.