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Salmond hits out at Britain's Iraq war policy



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FIRST Minister Alex Salmond claimed today that Britain's involvement in the war in Iraq was "the most disastrous foreign policy decision of recent times".
Speaking on the fifth anniversary of the start of the conflict, Mr Salmond also warned that its effects would be felt for many years to come.

The Liberal Democrats also marked the anniversary with leader Nicol Stephen today lodging a motion at Holyrood demanding the UK Government hold a full inquiry into the war.

Both the SNP and the Liberal Democrats have opposed the conflict in Iraq since its beginning.

Mr Salmond said: "We are five years on from the most disastrous foreign policy decision of recent times – the effects of which will be with us for many years to come."

The First Minister stated: "Our brave servicemen and women are doing the job they were ordered to do, and they are risking their lives every day.

"We must remind ourselves why our service personnel were placed in peril in the first place."





The full article contains 175 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 20 March 2008 10:30 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: War in Iraq
 
1

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 11:40:17
DAMN RIGHT ALEX!!!
2

malkster,

Scotland 20/03/2008 12:44:35
Typical Salmond easy to criticise something that happened 5 yearsn ago but no suggestions how to make it better.
3

Joe,

Martello Tower 20/03/2008 12:46:23
Salmond stirring up The British Sh8t once again. This man is a Scottish version of Lord Haw Haw, every true UK Brit will cringe at his latest 'broadcast'
4

malkster,

Scotland 20/03/2008 12:56:08
He also refused to condemn the Iranian regime during a recent visit, the regime that is killing Scottish soldiers.
5

Merouane,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 13:13:26
#2. So do you think the UK government made the right decision at the time to get involved?
6

malkster,

Scotland 20/03/2008 13:14:43
#5

No we did not, but I also think that continually harping on about it is far less useful than working out the best course of action.
7

Joe M.,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 13:28:16
It's the British imperialist approach to foreign policy which is the problem and Alex Salmond wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't say Scots were against this war.
8

malkster,

Scotland 20/03/2008 13:31:33
#7

He is opposed to the war we get that, but it would have been nice if he had condemmed Iranian involvement in the death of Scottish soldiers.
9

John S,

20/03/2008 13:32:54
#2 - Maybe Iraq could be divided along the lines of three main religious groups, Sunni, Shiite and the Kurds ?

10

Merouane,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 13:36:20
#6. It is the anniversary of the start of the conflict. It surely is a time for reflection on what happened. I think there are many at Westminster who would wish that we would forget. As far as I'm aware, Salmond has made suggestions regarding the best course of action given the situation we're now in.
11

malkster,

Scotland 20/03/2008 13:52:19
refelction yes cheap criticism no, as for suggestions his revolutionary pull everyone out next week is not very helpful.
12

Jackie Priest,

20/03/2008 14:02:32
#2

What a stupid thing to say.

Even after Labour disgraced the UK nations by dragging them into this shameful war, you choose to snipe at Salmond and the SNP.

Get your damn priorities right.

13

Jackie Priest,

20/03/2008 14:04:25
#6

Another ridiculour comment.

Labour must be held accountable, and Blair above all, for the human cost of this war.

We need people like Salmond to keep reminding us of their atrocities.

14

Merouane,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 14:05:57
#11. Aye, I'm sorry, but I think #12 has it right. It sounds to me like you agree with what Salmond's saying, you just don't like the fact that it's him who's saying it.

Also, I don't recall Salmond ever advocating a 'revolutionary pull everyone out next week' strategy. I could be wrong though.
15

malkster,

Scotland 20/03/2008 14:07:18
#13

Atrocities? Illegal? i am waiting for people to end up in court otherwise you may want to remember the libel laws. The priority has to be how to make the best of the situation we are now in. Once it is all over then we can look at blame. I snip at salmonds refusal to condemn a regime that are involved in killing scottish soldiers.
16

AJM,

20/03/2008 14:28:56
It is obvious to everyone that the vast majority of people are against this war. I agreed with everything AS said until that last silly sentence. Why must we remind ourselves and how will that help service personnel. Well it wont, the only reason AS wants us to remind ourselves is to have a petty go a labour. He has to realise he is the FM and try and behave if not think like a statesman. He should support the families and service staff in a more creditable manner rather than treat them as a political swipe sandwich.
17

Stepford Nat,

20/03/2008 14:46:55
It was Labour's fault. Only the SNP stood against the war.
Alex is infallible. Gordon is rubbish.
18

John S,

20/03/2008 15:01:23
Telegraph - 19/11/2006 - Iraq invasion a disaster, Blair admits.
Tony Blair conceded last night that the invasion of Iraq by the United States and Britain had been a "disaster".
BBC-17 November 2006, Minister Margaret Hodge is reported to have called the Iraq war Tony Blair's "big mistake in foreign affairs". The industry minister also criticised Mr Blair's "moral imperialism" Apparently she added: "I hope this isn't being reported." Mrs Hodge has denied making the remarks.
19

Merouane,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 15:08:50
#17. I think you'll struggle to generate much sympathy for Brown and Labour on a thread about the Iraq war.
20

scottishcoffindodgerno1,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 15:14:34
#2,YOU ARE A PR****T,Alex has been against the war from the beginning.He voted against it.
21

Stepford Nat,

20/03/2008 15:24:25
19 I don't want to. They are unionists and therefore wrong about everything.
22

Jackie Priest,

20/03/2008 15:47:08
#3

"every true UK Brit will cringe at his latest 'broadcast'"

What, all 3 of you?


23

Merouane,

Edinburgh 20/03/2008 15:51:19
#21. No they're not. It's just the Union they're all wrong about ;)
24

Highland Mighty,

20/03/2008 16:17:14
22. Still at it?!

So there's only one nationalist? I knew there were a lot of multiple usernames but I still thought there was more than just you typing it all from over there in Switzerland.
25

Hunky Dorey,

Glasgow 20/03/2008 17:10:49
#3 Joe.......... It would'nt be right to compare the leader of our government(Alex Salmond)to the British loyalist turned traitor,William Joyce, aka Lord haw-haw.
26

subrosa,

20/03/2008 18:10:57
# 16I agreed with everything AS said until that last silly sentence. Why must we remind ourselves and how will that help service personnel.

His last sentence may not be helpful to those out in the wars but it's helpful to the families knowing that at least one politician agrees with the majority of us. Alec Salmond has been consistent throughout the past 5 years and I'm sure the families acknowledge that fact.

Until you're the mother or father of a serving soldier or airman then you know nothing.
27

J J MAROONER,

20/03/2008 18:44:02
26#

well said Subrosa!!
28

boudica,

Glasgow 20/03/2008 19:10:44
Wee Eck critise his Wee Pal in Iran or any other Muslim Extremist who attacks or kills any Scot ...You are joking ..If he did he would alienate more than half of SNP supporters ..Sure he is even trying to wangle special dispensations for all the Curry Chefs and Waiters as the Curry Cafe Trade will collapse if they dont get in and as they are all SNP supporters of the Future ..Do you think Wee Eck will jepordise that ...Nahhhh..
29

boudica,

Glasgow 20/03/2008 19:30:54
As a mother of 2 ex soldiers and an Aunt to 2 serving married officers who have spent time serving in Iraq and will again ...Salmond doesnt represent them or me or our Family ... He like SNP leaders of the Past will sup with those who would see us all under the yoke of tyranny to split the Union Kingdom and tell us it is for our own Good ...He is not interested in the Good of Scotland he is only interested in what is good for Salmond and his supporters want to give up trying to convince the rest that he walks on water ..He is just a Fat Wee Nyaff with Delusions of Grandeur ...What I want to know is .. will His Wife send back the £500 Winter Fuel Grant she is due ( she is over 80 ? ) or will that be put into his Retirement Fund Oops I mean His Charity Fund ....hahaha....
30

Caora Dubh,

Croit sheasgair 20/03/2008 22:04:08
#25 Hunky Dorey: William Joyce, aka Lord Haw Haw, was a citizen of Eire, NOT a citizen of a Dominion Territory, let alone the UK. Thus Lord Haw Haw could not be, and was not a traitor to the UK. Do not forget that the people of Eire had suffered under British rule and that the UK had executed Irish patriots who had taken part in the Easter uprising of 1916 while dressed in military uniforms, as traitors. In 1939-1945 memories of that were still fresh, and it is understandable that William Joyce should befriend the enemy of his own enemy.
31

Bob Christie,

20/03/2008 22:13:17
Salmond is quite right to echo the view of the majority of Scots with regard to the Labour party's war in Iraq.
It is high time the troops were withdrawn and Blair, Brown and Busg put on trial for war crimes.
32

Paul Carline,

Scotland 21/03/2008 11:15:39
Yes the invasion and occupation are illegal; and yes, they constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
It's quite simple: everyone involved in the war, everyone who promoted it and continues to support it, is violating national (International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001) and international law and is therefore by definition guilty of war crimes, either directly - those who ordered and carried out the attacks, then and now - or indirectly, by voting for war in 2003, and voting against any inquiry into the war.
Yesterday members of the campaign to Make Wars History submitted a crime report to Lothian & Borders Police naming the 22 Labour MPs who backed Blair in 2003 - they include Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, John Reid, Adam Ingram, Nigel Griffiths and Des Browne.
It is a duty of all citizens to report crime - especially serious crime of this nature, which has caused the deaths of several million people.
This is a war of aggression - the "supreme international crime" according to the Nuremberg Judgement. Those who perpetrated it and continue to support it are war criminals. It's as simple as that.

 

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