British Government minister speaks out

While British Parliamentarian Barbara Roche is supportive of UK war effort, she expresses criticism of George Bush

It's been a tough few weeks for British Prime Minister Tony Blair. His initiative to win UN Security Council support to oust Saddam Hussein failed. In Iraq, the war has proven more difficult than expected. British soldiers have been inadvertently killed by their US allies. In Washington, the Bush administration already appears to be handing out post-war construction to companies that funded his 2000 presidential campaign. Some British newspaper cartoonists portray Blair as a dog or donkey held on a leash by President George Bush.

All this has taken a toll on Blair's popularity at home. While the latest polls show a slim majority of the British electorate now support the war, Blair's personal popularity has plunged to 40%, nearly his lowest rating ever. And the ruling Labour Party that he leads has seen its lead over the opposition Conservatives whittled from 11% to just 6% over the past three months.

The Inquisitor recently interviewed Barbara Roche, British government minister for social exclusion and women, a trusted Blair confidante. Ms Roche supports the Anglo-American war effort but voiced certain criticisms of President Bush. The following interview took place at Ms Roche's constituency office in north London.

Inquisitor: Are you concerned that the Labour government of Tony Blair - one that champions social inclusion and the national health service - has aligned himself with what many see as the most right-wing US president since Richard Nixon? Isn't that a mistake for a man of the center left?

Roche: I'm no fan of George Bush and think it's a shame that Al Gore wasn't elected. I believe that he had only been outside the US once or twice before he was elected. If you look at US history you see it has been profoundly isolationist and you must choose between letting the Americans go their own way or trying to engage them in some way. I'm also an admirer of Bill Clinton despite the mistakes he made. I think things might have gone very differently on the diplomatic front if he had still been in office.

Inquisitor: Are you concerned that the Bush administration has already announced that key contracts for Iraqi postwar reconstruction will only be given to US companies? Or that Halliburton, Vice President Dick Cheney's old company, will be one of the main beneficiaries?

Roche: I was concerned about this when I heard it. That's something that Cheney has to account for and I'd be amazed if it really turns out like that. It's early days and, aside from the war itself, the humanitarian mission must be the top priority right now.

Inquisitor: You are a minister in the UK government and thus support the war in Iraq by implication. What is your justification for this, given there is no proven link between Saddam Hussein's regime and Al Queda or anyone else associated with the 9/11 terror attacks?

Barbara Roche: Iraq may have links to Hamas (the Islamic Palestinian group) and other extremist organizations. I agree it is difficult to prove a link between Iraq and Al Queda. My concern was that he (Hussein) might have given or sold weapons to them.

Inquisitor: But why Iraq? Without a doubt, Hussein is a brutal dictator but Iraq does not look to possess weapons of mass destruction on the scale of North Korea, Pakistan, India or Iran. And we know Iraq has bought silkworm missiles from China. Why not go after them too?

Roche: I don't share your world view and believe that Saddam Hussein's regime is a threat to peace. There are large amounts of anthrax and VX gas that remain unaccounted for. I think the (British) government is right to go to war. If I didn't think that then I would resign.

Inquisitor: Where does this evidence come from? Scott Ritter, senior UN weapons inspector from 1993-1998 says Iraq retains few if any illegal weapons. And despite British claims to the contrary, Mohammed El Beradei (the chief UN nuclear weapons inspector) has stated unequivocally that Iraq retains no nuclear weapons program. And Hans Blix wanted more time for inspections to continue.

Roche: There is intelligence that points to missing VX gas and anthrax not accounted for in the weapons inspections. Hans Blix stated this himself. But it's difficult to prove in a country so ruthlessly controlled as Hussein's Iraq.

Inquisitor: Under what circumstances would you resign from the government?

Roche: It all about the policies. If I felt that the government was wrong then I would resign. And I respect the views of those opposed to this war.