Statement on Iraq - posted 24 September 2002

There are currently no concrete proposals to invade Iraq and Britain has certainly not signed up to any plan to do so.

I am, of course, aware of the talk that is currently in the air of a possible United States led military intervention in Iraq with the purpose of toppling Saddam Hussein's regime. I think we can all agree that the Saddam Hussein Regime is quite odious and has caused untold misery to the lives of Iraqi's as well as the citizens of countries around Iraq who have been variously threatened and invaded. I think we can also agree that there is considerable evidence of Saddam Hussein's repeated endeavours to obtain material for weapons of mass destruction, with the possibility of the previous threats and military actions might be repeated in the future.

Therefore, in principle a "regime change" would be very desirable for the people of Iraq, probably for wider world security, and certainly for the security of those countries immediately around Iraq. None of this, however, supports the idea that there should be a military expedition involving US, British and other troops into Iraq to effect such change. I am very aware of the dangers that such an action would present, and the extent to which it would be perceived as direct interference by one of more countries with the internal sovereignty of a third country. The case that has to be made is that the position and action of Saddam Hussein are so intolerable that such action would be warranted and clearly this, if that case is to be made, should be made through the auspices of the United Nations.

I will certainly be pressing for full discussion of any proposals concerning the future of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq to be fully bought before the United Nations and decided upon. Unilateral military action would, it seems, fly completely in the face of that principle.

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