March 18, 2003
Blair:"We must hold firm."
Blair: 'Back me or I quit'
The Prime Minister told a hushed Commons this afternoon that his Government now faced a "stark choice" - to stand down the thousands of troops now hours away from war, or to hold firm to the course they have set. And he declared "I believe we must hold firm."
He went on to paint a graphic picture of the consequences of retreat, the United Nations reduced to "a talking shop"; Saddam Hussein triumphant; other tyrants encouraged - and the Iraqi people condemned to continued oppression. And he demanded bluntly: "Who will celebrate and who will weep if we take our troops back from the Gulf now?"
He went on: "If we do act, we should do so with a clear conscience and a strong heart. Our fault has not been impatience. The truth is that our patience should have been exhausted weeks and months and even years ago."
Mr Blair added: "Back away from this confrontation now and future conflicts will be infinitely worse and more devastating."
And he said that to retreat now, he believed, "would put at hazard all that we hold dearest ... tell our allies that at the very moment of action, at the very moment they need our determination, that Britain faltered. I will not be party to such a cause." With the Tories officially backing him there was no real doubt that Mr Blair would gain the paper majority he needs in the vote at 10 tonight.
God bless you, Tony and your like-minded British political allies for your strong, principled support!
In WWII, Britain needed America's help and we gave it.
Now the tables have turned and we'd like to have Britain's help and it makes it feel as if the War is more than half-way won just to know they'll be by our side in the Liberation of Iraq!
