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By
Nick Assinder
BBC
News Online's political correspondent, travelling with the prime
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UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has given his strongest indication yet
that he is ready to back military action against Iraq to remove Saddam
Hussein from power.
In a keynote speech in Texas, he said Britain, America and the EU
should be prepared to act wherever terrorism or weapons of mass
destruction threatened them.
If necessary the action should be military and
again, if necessary and justified, it should involve regime change
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Tony Blair
Prime Minister
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He said action was not imminent and offered Saddam Hussein a possible
way out by allowing weapons inspectors unlimited access to his facilities.
But he left guests at the George Bush Senior Presidential Library,
College Station, in little doubt that he was prepared to take on his
critics at home and back US action against Baghdad.
Mr Blair also said that Britain would be ready to help monitor a
ceasefire between Israel and Palestine, to help end the Middle East
crisis.
Action not imminent
On Iraq he said: "If necessary the action should be military and again,
if necessary and justified, it should involve regime change," he said.
But, speaking to an audience of senior academics and politicians -
including former President George Bush, who led the 1991 Gulf war against
Iraq - he said action was not imminent.
With the opposition to military action against Iraq growing in Britain
and the EU, he declared: "I know some fear precipitate action. They
needn't.
The moment for decision on how to act is not yet
with us
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Tony Blair
Prime Minister
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"We will proceed, as we did after 11 September, in a calm, measured,
sensible but firm way.
"But leaving Iraq to develop weapons of mass destruction in flagrant
breach of no less than nine separate UN resolutions, refusing still to
allow weapons inspectors back to do their work properly is not an option."
Clearly eager to meet head-on the opposition from his own backbenchers
and some ministers, he said: "The moment for decision on how to act is not
yet with us.
"But to allow weapons of mass destruction to be developed by a state
like Iraq without let or hindrance would be grossly to ignore the lessons
of 11 September - and we will not do it.
'Axis of evil'
"The message to Saddam is clear. He has to let the inspectors back in -
anyone, anytime, any place that the international community demands."
He also turned his attention to the "axis of evil" states targeted by
President Bush suggesting he would even support action there.
Sponsoring terrorism or weapons of mass
destruction is not acceptable
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Tony Blair
Prime Minister
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"We cannot of course intervene in all cases but where countries are
engaged in the terror or weapons of mass destruction business, we should
not shirk from confronting them.
"Some can be offered a way out, a route to respectability. I hope in
time that Syria, Iran and even North Korea can accept the need to change
their relations dramatically with the outside world.
Peacemaking role
"A new relationship is on offer but they must know that sponsoring
terrorism or weapons of mass destruction is not acceptable."
Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, he said: "In monitoring any
such ceasefire and in ensuring that the Palestinian Authority genuinely
takes action against the terrorists, we and others stand ready to help in
any way we can."
He again urged President Bush to remain engaged, declaring: "Above all
the Middle East requires continuous focus and engagement.
"The role of peacemaker, where hatreds are entrenched, is never easy
but it is massively in our interests to try."
Underlining his support for President Bush, he said when America was
fighting for the values of democracy and freedom, "we will fight with
her."
"No grandstanding, no offering implausible but impractical advice from
the comfort of the touchline, no wishing away the hard not the easy
choices on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, or making peace in
the Middle East, but working together side by side."
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