March 17, 2003
British Iraq Position Supported
Program UTV LIVE AT 18.00
Subject: War on Iraq (Paul Murphy)
KATE SMITH
Secretary of State, could I ask you first of all, to spell out to us
your own personal position on this scenario?
PAUL MURPHY
Well, my position is exactly the same as the Government's that, unfortunately,
diplomacy has now come to an end for various reasons, particularly of course
because of what the French veto did.
But now we really have no option but to go forward to ensure that we
see disarmament in Iraq, and in so doing I believe that we will rid the
world of weapons of mass destruction, which are held in Iraq, and also
I hope that we will be able to ensure that the Iraqi people are governed
wisely and well in years to follow.
KATE SMITH
But that's given that opinion polls are showing that less than 40% of
people support military action at this stage. Are you still fully in support
of war?
PAUL MURPHY
Well, I'm in support of war if it means that we can do what we have
to do, and that is to ensure that the weapons of mass destruction are removed
from Iraq, and in so doing I also believe that we will, as I say, ensure
that Saddam Hussein is no longer the leader of a country which tortures
its people, and which has meant that four million out of just over 20 million
people have fled Iraq over the last number of years.
But the issue is one of ensuring that we disarm the Iraqi Government,
and that there are no longer weapons of mass destruction there. And if
the only way to do that is through military conflict, then so be it.
KATE SMITH
Well in that disarmament, there's widespread belief that innocent people
will be killed. How do you justify that?
PAUL MURPHY
Well, obviously, I hope that in any military action, that that is kept
to a minimum. Inevitably, of course, there will be casualties. But I actually
believe that when the allies go into Iraq, that there will actually be
support amongst the Iraqi people themselves for the action that's being
taken. Clearly any casualties are to be deeply, deeply regretted, and none
of us want war to happen. All of us wanted diplomacy to succeed. Unfortunately
it didn't, and certainly we've done all we can as a British Government
to ensure that we went as far as we could in trying to bring the diplomatic
route is the one that we wanted. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
8:05 a.m., March 19, 2003
Program: BBC Breakfast - Paul Murphy
Subject Iraq War
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
Tony Blair will today call for unity amongst MPs when he returns to
the Commons for Prime Minister's Question Time. It follows last night's
vote on war with Iraq which saw a massive Labour back bench rebellion.
So where does that vote leave the Government and the Prime Minister? The
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, is one of Tony Blair's
strongest supporters and he's here with us in the studio now.
Mr. Murphy, how do the leadership view last night's revolt, a kind of
great letting off of steam, but now back to the business of war, that's
going to be washed away as military events take over?
PAUL MURPHY
Yes, well two thirds of the Parliamentary Labour Party of course voted
last night in favor of military action if that's necessary. I think the
other important thing to remember is that this is the first time that the
House of Commons has been given this opportunity, before any military activity,
to take this vote and of course it was a very serious vote. No one goes
into war, into military action with anything but sadness, of course we
don't do that, and everybody has to think very carefully about their own
position. But at the end of the day there's no alternative to what's needed
in terms of ensuring that we destroy weapons of mass destruction and move
into Iraq if that's necessary.
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
So you're saying, yes we hear you, but we have to ignore you. One of
the messages also coming out very strongly was that people want diplomacy
to reassert itself very soon, if not after the war, during it?
PAUL MURPHY
Well I certainly agree that diplomacy's absolutely vital, unfortunately
it hasn't worked in this case for all sorts of reasons. What is equally
important though is that we look for the reconstruction of Iraq after all
this has happened.
There, I think, the United Nations will have a hugely important role
to play and that's why it's important that we, as the United Kingdom together
with the United States and other countries, play our part in ensuring that
reconstruction occurs.
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
But there's a lot of mending of diplomatic fences to go on, not least
our relations with the French of course and indeed rebuilding the authority
of the UN. Is that going to go on in tandem with the war or is that business
to be dealt with later?
PAUL MURPHY
Well I think it has to go on all the time, of course it must, but our
priority must be to ensure that weapons of mass destruction are uncovered
and removed in Iraq.
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
Now there was another message perhaps hidden within that back bench
rebellion, just a general dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister which
has been building for some time about domestic issues. Has that been taken
on board?
PAUL MURPHY
Well. I think some members thought that but frankly most members who
were in the rebels, as it were yesterday, wouldn't have taken that view.
They were voting specifically on a single issue and that issue was about
whether or not we ought to take military action.
It's a very difficult decision for all members of Parliament, including
Ministers, but at the end of the day many, many, of them actually said,
although we respect what the Prime Minister is doing, we have to take a
different view in the same way that those of us in Government respect members
who take that view.
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
It's also said that keeping Claire Short in the Cabinet, keeping her
on side has limited the size of that rebellion. As a Cabinet colleague
of hers, still of Cabinet colleague of hers of course, did you watch the
stroking that she was being given by the Prime Minister as perhaps burning
up his time when he's got more important issues to be dealing with?
PAUL MURPHY
Well, I don't think anybody was stroking anybody, but at the end of
the day it was a matter for Claire Short herself to decide what was best
for her to do. It was a matter for her own conscience, she's been a very
good International Development Secretary and I'm sure will play an important
role in the reconstruction of Iraq.
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
And just finally and briefly, can I just ask you about this developing
story coming out of the Reuters news agency that Saudi Arabia are saying
they're pushing very, very hard for Saddam Hussein to go into exile as
a last ditch effort to avert war. Could that kind of plan at the 11th hour
stop the forces rolling in?
PAUL MURPHY
Well we can all but hope. I mean if Saddam Hussein goes, we've given
him so many hours to go, then I think that would be good for Iraq and good
for the rest of the world.
DERMOT MURNAGHAN
But nevertheless troops would still go into search for weapons of mass
destruction?
PAUL MURPHY
Well I'm sure that's right because at the end of the day we have to
ensure that they are uncovered because that is the main reason why it is
that we are embarking on military action.
March 20, 2003
Morning news digest courtesy of the Northern Ireland
Information Service
All papers are dominated with the start of the war on Iraq shortly before
3 a.m. this morning. The Irish News also leads with claims from a senior
North Belfast loyalist that the UDA plan to abandon punishment shootings
in favor of naming and shaming.
War on Iraq
News Letter leads with a report that commander of the Royal Irish Battalion
in the Gulf has bluntly warned that some of you will not be coming back
and on News Letter P3 that Ulster families of those involved in
conflict with Iraq will be able to avail of pastoral services from the
Army and churches over the coming months. The Irish News P1 reports
that in Belfast anti-war protesters yesterday tried to persuade the British
Government not to take military action against Iraq.
Danny Kennedy in the News Letter P5 calls for local people to support
the thousands of Ulster men and women in Iraq. Peter Robinson, DUP has
challenged Tony Blair to outline his plan for internal security from terrorist
action from Iraq and Sammy Wilson has called on the Prime Minister to use
his influence with the American President to redirect US planes to Aldergrove
airport for refueling. News Letter P6.
Northern Ireland politicians continue to take a different line on the
war with Iraq. News Letter P7.
Editorial in News Letter P8 hopes that the action is swift and
decisive.
March 22, 2003
'Our Business Is Now North' - Collins
With one phrase, Lt. Col. Tim Collins, commander of the 1st Battalion
of the Royal Irish, summed up the task in hand for the British forces waiting
to remove Saddam Hussein from Iraq.
Collins was addressing his 800 men, an arm of Britain's 16 Air Assault
Brigade, at Fort Blair Mayne, a Kuwaiti desert camp 20 miles south of the
Iraqi border. Here is as much of his extraordinary speech as has been reported.
"We go to liberate not to conquer. We will not fly our flags in their
country. We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which
will be flown in that ancient land is their own. Show respect for them.
"There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly.
Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send. As for the
others I expect you to rock their world. Wipe them out if that is what
they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous
in victory.
"Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of
the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham. Tread lightly there. You
will see things that no man could pay to see and you will have to go a
long way to find a more decent, generous and upright people than the Iraqis.
You will be embarrassed by their hospitality even though they have nothing.
Don't treat them as refugees for they are in their own country. Their children
will be poor, in years to come they will know that the light of liberation
in their lives was brought by you.
"If there are casualties of war, then remember that when they woke up
and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day. Allow
them dignity in death. Bury them properly and mark their graves.
"It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive
but there may be people among us who will not see the end of this campaign.
We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back. There will
be no time for sorrow.
"The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that we
are bringing about his rightful destruction. There are many regional commanders
who have stains on their souls and they are stoking the fires of hell for
Saddam. He and his forces will be destroyed by this coalition for what
they have done. As they die, they will know their deeds have brought them
to this place. Show them no pity.
"It is a big step to take another human life. It is not to be done lightly.
I know of men who have taken life needlessly in other conflicts, I can
assure you they live with the mark of Cain upon them. If someone surrenders
to you then remember they have that right in international law and ensure
that one day they go home to their family.
"The ones who wish to fight, well, we aim to please.
"If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing
or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer. You will be shunned
unless your conduct is of the highest for your deeds will follow you down
through history. We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation.
"(Regarding the use by Saddam of chemical or biological weapons)] It
is not a question of if, it's a question of when. We know he has already
devolved the decision to lower commanders, and that means he has already
taken the decision himself. If we survive the first strike, we will survive
the attack.
"As for ourselves, let's bring everyone home and leave Iraq a better
place for us having been there.
"Our business now is north."
March 24, 2003
Morning news digest courtesy of the Northern Ireland
Information Service
Newspapers are again dominated by the war in Iraq as Tony Blair calls
on the public to support the troops.
War in Iraq
Tony Blair called on the nation to 'back our boys' as the war continues
to rage in Iraq. They Royal Irish Regiment and the Irish Guards are among
the soldiers fighting in the war. News Letter P1. The Orange Order
has also sent a message of solidarity to troops in Iraq. News Letter
P7.
A speech made by Co. Down-born solider, Lt. Col. Tim Collins as he prepared
to lead his soldiers into battle, has been praised by former BBC war correspondent
Martin Bell. News Letter P3.
Anti-war demonstrators held protests across Northern Ireland at the
weekend. News Letter P6, 7, Irish News P11, Irish Times
P7, Daily Mirror P17.
UUP MLA, Alan McFarland and the SDLP's Eddie McGrady offer differing
views on the war. News Letter P6, 7.
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