Say Sorry over Iraq War, Blair Urged

[cal04]

The Liberal Democrats will today step up their demands on Tony Blair to apologise over the war in Iraq. The party’s foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell will warn the Prime Minister he will not win support to quash the rising violence in Iraq unless he says sorry.Mr Blair yesterday vowed to win the “new conflict” which had turned Iraq into the “crucible” of the fight against international terrorism.

But speaking ahead of his speech Sir Menzies said: “Tony Blair will find it much easier to enrol people in this second war – which has to be won – if he apologises for getting us into the first war in the first place.”Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy used the first day of the party’s annual conference in Bournemouth to demand an apology from the Prime Minister.Speaking at a conference rally, Mr Kennedy said Britain’s reputation as a “steady and stable” force in international affairs was now in tatters.“I believe the basis upon which we entered the war in Iraq to have been the biggest foreign policy error committed by a British government since Suez,” he said.

Mr Kennedy said it was too late to turn back the clock. But Mr Blair must apologise for the “litany of betrayal” over Iraq.
“Prime Minister, why not even now admit you got it wrong?” he said.
“Apologise. Say sorry for the damage you have done, the anguish you have caused, the wrongs you can never now right.“At the very least Prime Minister, just say sorry.”Mr Kennedy also last night dismissed suggestions the party’s opposition to the war risked turning it into a “one-trick pony”.Sir Menzies – also the party’s deputy leader – will use his speech to the conference to call for a change in Britain’s relationship with the USA.He will tell delegates Britain must not “behave in a way that is so subordinate as to appear subservient”.

Britain must become equal partners with the US, he will say. And he will argue Britain has nothing to show for its current relationship with the US.Sir Menzies will also call on the Government to get the “Yes” campaign for the referendum on the EU constitution up and running. He will say the “No” campaign is already under way.
“I think it can be won,” he added.


http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3521130

[number6]

1. kick

..

[demoman123]

2. "Sorry"? That's what they say if they bump you on the street in London.

It doesn't mean anything.

[Matilda]

3. Was that a flying pig I saw?

n/t

[TriMetFan]

4. Well it looks like we're going to even loose Britain's friendship.

Thanks You Bush.

[jayfish]

5. Question Is...

will even that be enough to seal the fate of the 43rd President Of The United States? I have my doubts.

Jay

[Kimber Scott]

6. Second war? When did the first one end?

nt

[AlCzervik]

7. charles Kennedy liberal democrat is my favorite part

of any PM's questions on cspan, i iwish we had more like him here.

[struggle4progress]

8. kick

:kick:

[JDPriestly]

9. How do you apologize to dead children?

[Moderator]

10. cal04

Please don't post articles in their entirety. Just excerpt up to four paragraphs from the article. Thanks.