>Bill writes:
>...your question of "why now" I say again, the dynamics of our foreign
policy have shifted radically since 9/11. I would say that Bush ll's desire
to rid Saddam now is a race against time - ...

Granted the shift has happened. From being inward-looking and seemingly isolationist to being at the forefront of shaping a new world order. This is all very well and if conducted within the confines of the UN (flawed but the only one we've got), with adherence to international law, with engagement of genuine coalitions and respecting differences, then it would have my vote. My country is on the verge of taking part in an aggression the reasons for which do not stand up to argument, the evidence is non-existent or slim to say the least, the stated motives rather suggest another agenda. Former senior military leaders of our armed forces have expressed disquiet at the ambiguity of the military mission, questioning what the plan is for now and for a post-conflict Iraq, and how this will be received by other nations worldwide. Across the political spectrum (that's the one in common parlance with the Left at one end, the Right at the other) people with absolutely different views are speaking with one voice against what is happening.  Notably, the biggest demonstrations at the weekend were in the countries that have gone in wholly on the Bush approach. 

All the talk in this debate about democracy and freedom, hard won over centuries of struggle and conflict. Well if you never before knew what democracy was, you sure saw it on Saturdays peace marches. They were freedom and democracy in action and writ large, and a message was sent that we, the people, will not be conned or spun into war lightly.  As a German Minister said in a televised debate here last week: "If Iraq was in the Gobi desert, it would be naive to think we'd even be discussing them". We are not convinced by our leader, we are suspicious of the reasons (which change by the week over here) and see through puerile attempts to bully by labelling and name-calling ("socialist", "appeasers", "weasels" etc). In fact these tactics show that they are being disingenuous. There is plenty of unfinished business and peoples desperate forfreedom from opression and persecution (Liberia, Ivory Coast, Congo, Zimbabwe...).

I expect a hell of a lot more from the people I put into power.


Regards











































Richard Ali
Smith & Williamson Corporate Services Limited





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