Bill's Comment Page

Blair and Bush Press Conference shows they are almost totally united

At a joint Press Conference today (I just finished watching it live on television), President Bush and Prime Minister Blair revealed as expected that they are almost totally united in their aims and policies toward Iraq. Their differences, which I consider are probably quite minor in substance [although perhaps more significant politically in the longer term] will be discussed briefly, too.

Bush began by recalling the more than 100 years during which the closest ally of the US has been the UK and that they have fought together to rid the world of all major threats during that period.

Bush was asked by a US journalist to try and give a timetable for the war - he was categoric in stating that "it will take as long as it takes" and went on to say it was crucial that all parties, our own soldiers, the Iraqi government and specially the Iraqi people, were reassured of the coalition's resolve to free Iraq from the grip of Saddam Hussein whom "we will remove from power, one way or the other".

Blair, for his part, emphasised the need for UN involvement with humanitarian aid "basically within the next few days" and in the longer term. It is fair to say, I think, that whilst President Bush listened politely to this part of Blair's comments, he did not verbalise his support for this particular aspect of Blair's policy. Blair, like Bush, also emphasised the immediate aim is to 'liberate' Iraq from Saddam Hussein's grip.

Both men implied that the war may not necessarily be over very soon - Blair said that war is a "brutal and bloody affair" and we must be prepared for casualties. Blair was asked (by Andrew Marr of the BBC) to clarify the use of the word 'executed' in relation to some of the British military personnel who had been shown dead (some with bullet holes in the forehead) on arab television stations (al-Jazeera amongst others). He responded only by saying "we know", but declined to provide other information - presumably because it relates to sensitive intelligence sources which he does not wish to compromise. Personally, I am happy to accept what Blair said - although I hope that once the war is successfully concluded that we will be allowed to know the circumstances. He said these incidents illustrate very well the brutality of the Iraqi Ba-ath regime, as do other recent actions of the Iraqi toward its own citizens.

Bush issued a direct warning to Iraqi generals not to obey orders to use WMD, and that any senior officers who gave such orders would be held personally responsible and treated as war criminals. His warning, as we have come to expect from him, was delivered calmly and quietly and designed to emphasise that he is firmly resolved in what he said. I am glad and I hope the Iraqi authorities will understand it is in their own best interests not to disregard this warning.

Blair rebutted those who say that the war is going slowly - he said he thought it was remarkable how much progress had been made in what was still less than a week. He reminded listeners that whilst it may seem as if the war has been going on for a considerable time, it is still only aboout a week.

Blair also rebutted those who say that most of Europe is against the war. He reiterated that a majority of present EU members are supportive as are almost all those countries who will shortly join. He accepted that there were some EU countries who were opposed to the war and suggested that their leaders could be asked again why this is their policy.

All in all a very positive public performance. I daresay there were many other matters the two discussed in private which we will only come to know about, if ever, once the war is much farther forward or concluded.

It is clear to me that it will be concluded successfully, although I suspect it could take some time, and entail significant coalition losses, to achieve this - certainly more than many even now considerable realistic. But there is no alternative - it is a worthy cause.