Article on Action in Iraq for Stockport Express by Andrew Stunell

Written by Andrew Stunell MP on Fri 7th Feb 2003

WE MUST NOT GO IT ALONE

The deep public unease about the Government's policy on Iraq was highlighted by the huge marches in London and elsewhere last weekend. Many Stopfordians marched, and a good few have written to me. Not one has supported the idea that Britain and the USA should take unilateral military action.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, spoke to the march in Hyde Park, setting out yet again what needs to be done, just as he has been doing in Parliament for the last nine months. Our tough questions have had Ministers on the back foot throughout. Until we get some straight answers, there should be no question of Britain's forces being sent into action against Iraq.

First, though, let's be clear: Saddam Hussein's regime is evil. He has attacked other countries, oppressed his own people, and manufactured weapons of mass destruction prohibited by international treaty. Worse than that, he has used them against the Iranians, and others. Unfortunately back then he was seen as an ally of the USA, who may even have egged him on.

So arguing against unilateral military action by the UK and USA is not done because people are deluded about the regime in Iraq, but because we believe results can be achieved better by other methods - less loss of human life, and much lower risk of wholesale destabilisation of the Middle East, or of giving terrorism a big boost.

On the terrorism point, is it more likely or less likely that unemployed young men in Cairo will volunteer for terrorist training if we 'go it alone' and invade Iraq?

That is why Mr Kennedy told the march that he was 'pro-UN, not anti-war'. If there is convincing evidence that Saddam is still stockpiling weapons of mass destruction then the UN weapons inspectors should say so. Up to now they haven't - though they also have not given Saddam a clean bill of health either. Mr Blix should be given the time he needs to be certain. Then, if he makes an adverse report it is for the United Nations to decide how best to disarm Iraq.

Even then, military action comes in all sizes. International law requires actions to be proportionate. No-one ever thought that the best way of dealing with the IRA was to invade Ireland and bomb Dublin. Commonsense requires actions to be capable of producing the results wanted. That is why the recapture of Kuwait from the same Saddam Hussein ten years ago was done by a UN-authorised coalition of forces. The active support of other countries and of the UN was essential to 'winning the peace' afterwards. George Bush seems ready to ignore this vital lesson learned by his father.

As an MP my responsibility is to ensure that any UK forces sent into action have the legitimacy of international law behind them, the authority of Parliament to support them, and the best available equipment to protect them. Just now, they have none of these things.

END