MP's are not vocally denouncing military action, merely pontificating over whether "the case has been made" effectively enough by Blair's Fabian Society friends and the Skull and Crossbones-men across the Ocean. Clearly they need to be more "persuasive."

When posting a non-English language item to the newswire, could you provide a translation or a brief summary of the contents, and if possible, place the article you are linking to in context? Why should we be interested in this?

 http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_786395_1_A,00.html

26.02.2003

Blair Calls German, French Effort Absurd

British Prime Minister Tony Blair says German and French efforts to extend inspections in Iraq will only serve to prolong a war and increase bloodshed.


The speech on Tuesday was considered to be one of the most important ones that British Prime Minister Tony Blair has delivered since he took office in 1997. And he made clear what he thought of the new European attempts to extend the mission of U.N. inspectors in Iraq.

The idea is absurd, Blair told the assembled members of parliament. "This is not a road to peace, but folly and weakness which will only mean that when the conflict comes, it will be more bloody, less certain and greater in its devastation," Blair said.

The speech comes at a crucial time for the prime minister, an unwavering supporter of President George W. Bush and his drive to wage war against Iraq in an effort to disarm the regime of Saddam Hussein. On Wednesday, members of the British parliament will debate a government motion that tells Saddam that he has his "final opportunity" to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction.

Anti-war critics told the British Broadcasting Corp. that at least 80 MPs will rebel against the government's hard-line stance when the Parliament votes.

Later on Tuesday, Blair met with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, another European supporter of further inspections. Afteward, Fischer said the two countries were unable to end their differences of opinion.

The meeting was one of many diplomatic efforts being held on the day after the United States, Britain and Spain announced that they would file a second resolution in the U.N. Security Council that declares that Iraq has missed its chance to peacefully disarm.

Germans, French talk strategy

Shortly after that announcement was made, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and French President Jacques Chirac met in a Berlin restaurant called "The Court of Final Appeal" to discuss their latest effort in the world's highest-ranking court of appeal to block a U.S.-led effort to invade Iraq.

After completing their meal of pork and sauerkraut, Schröder and Chirac stepped before a crowd of journalists gathered outside the 382-year-old restaurant to let Bush and Blair know that they planned to build a new line of defense against their efforts. As part of this diplomatic resistance, Germany, France and Russia have introduced their own U.N. proposal designed to achieve the peaceful disarmament of Iraq by extending the inspectors' stay.

Leaders condemn war

Standing on a small podium outside the restaurant, Schröder and Chirac spelled out their reasons for stiffening their opposition to the resolution introduced by the United States, Britain and Spain on Monday. ...............
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 http://www.dw-world.de/english/
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