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Conflict
in Iraq
The task
now is
to rebuild Iraq. To plant the seed of democracy and provide the
conditions for it to take root. These pages contain some of my
thoughts on Iraq from before and during the conflict.
It
would
have been far far better if military action had taken place on the
authority of the UN. The failure to find WMDs raises many
questions. These articles show my thoughts developing as we
approached conflict, and after. After much struggling I supported
military action but, as these articles show, on the basis of an imminent
threat based on information that Saddam Hussein was developing Weapons of
Mass Destruction. One thing is sure, while the conflict divided many in the
Party and CSM, those of us who are committed to international peace,
democracy and social justice need to reflect carefully on the debates and
events of the past three years.
Don't
bail out on Iraq
An
interview with Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, UK Secretary of State for Defence
Lessons
from Afghanistan - a guest column
Approaching
Baghdad
Just
war - more than just cause
Why
war with Iraq could be a Just War
Parliament
votes for military action
Speculation
about Iraq began to intensify at the beginning of 2002. I
wrote a discussion paper for the Christian Socialist Movement in May
2002. The discussions that followed led to a CSM statement on
Iraq. The paper - which represented my personal views only - is
summarised below. Some of its contents may seem a little dated now
but the principle arguments remain relevant. Much hinged on the
nature of the threat that Saddam Hussein posed, partly to his own people
but also to the region and the world.
The
Problem of Iraq
Introduction
Summary
of the Problem
Policy
Responses and Just War Criteria
The
link with Palestine
Intervention
and Consistency
A
Comment on War and Appeasement
A
Christian Socialist Response
Christian
Socialist Movement statements
The
Christian Socialist Movement (CSM) has issued a number of statements on
Iraq. The May 2002 Executive Committee meeting discussed the matter
at length following my discussion paper The
Problem of Iraq. This led to a policy statement in August.
After much debate, the November EC followed this with a letter to the
Prime Minister. In January 2003 we surveyed our email-contactable
members and published the results. I gave a copy of this release to
Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, to which he replied.
In February 2003 another
statement was released quickly to comment on the France/German proposal to
increase the number of inspectors. CSM statements are released on
behalf of the organisation, usually in consultation with officers.
Improve
the welfare of the Iraqi people - August 2002
Letter
to the Prime Minister - November 2002
No
weapons no war - January 2003
To
read the response to this press release from the Rt Hon Geoff Hoon,
Secretary of State for Defence, click here
Franco/German
plan goes extra mile, say Christian Socialists - February 2003
CSM
2003 AGM Emergency Resolution
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