Libya – a new Iraq or a lesson learned?

Eight years ago today I sat in the House of Commons for what became the most important debate I ever participated in. And the most difficult. It was the first time the House had been asked to approve military action on a substantive motion – rather than a pathetic adjournment of the House. This was as far as New Labour’s commitment to an ethical foreign policy went however, for the debate and decision that day was to go to war in Iraq.

Tony Blair gave an immensely impressive performance, there’s no doubt about that, but we also now know how shallow, misleading and duplicitous it was.

I had questions for him, but he brushed me off:
The Prime Minister : I shall certainly do so. The UN resolution that should provide for the proper governance of Iraq should also protect totally the territorial integrity of Iraq. And this point is also important: that the oil revenues, which people falsely claim that we want to seize, should be put in a trust fund for the Iraqi people administered through the UN.
Mr. Simon Thomas (Ceredigion): Will the Prime Minister give way?
The Prime Minister: In a moment.
18 Mar 2003 : Column 772
Let the future Government of Iraq be given the chance to begin the process of uniting the nation's disparate groups, on a democratic basis—


Despite the stated aim of going to war to secure a democratic future for Iraq I was unconvinced both of the legal basis and the long term effectiveness of such action.

I was right and Blair was wrong and looking at the list of those who spoke that day I see many who have since recanted.

By 10.30pm we had voted, and it is worth noting the full text of the motion that the House of Commons approved that day – but which I and Plaid Cymru voted against:

That this House notes its decisions of 25th November 2002 and 26th February 2003 to endorse UN Security Council Resolution 1441; recognises that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and long range missiles, and its continuing non-compliance with Security Council Resolutions, pose a threat to international peace and security; notes that in the 130 days since Resolution 1441 was adopted Iraq has not co-operated actively, unconditionally and immediately with the weapons inspectors, and has rejected the final opportunity to comply and is in further material breach of its obligations under successive mandatory UN Security Council Resolutions; regrets that despite sustained diplomatic effort by Her Majesty's Government it has not proved possible to secure a second Resolution in the UN because one Permanent Member of the Security Council made plain in public its intention to use its veto whatever the circumstances; notes the opinion of the Attorney General that, Iraq having failed to comply and Iraq being at the time of Resolution 1441 and continuing to be in material breach, the authority to use force under Resolution 678 has revived and so continues today; believes that the United Kingdom must uphold the authority of the United Nations as set out in Resolution 1441 and many Resolutions preceding it, and therefore supports the decision of Her Majesty's Government that the United Kingdom should use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction; offers wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty's Armed Forces now on duty in the Middle East; in the event of military operations requires that, on an urgent basis, the United Kingdom should seek a new Security Council Resolution that would affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, allow for the earliest possible lifting of UN sanctions, an international reconstruction programme, and the use of all oil revenues for the benefit of the Iraqi people and endorse an appropriate post-conflict administration for Iraq, leading to a representative government which upholds human rights and the rule of law for all Iraqis; and also welcomes the imminent publication of the Quartet's roadmap as a significant step to bringing a just and lasting peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians and for the wider Middle East region, and endorses the role of Her Majesty's Government in actively working for peace between Israel and Palestine.

We know now that the reference to the Attorney General’s views was misleading to say the least, but what is particularly disheartening about this motion is the sop to Labour backbenchers regarding Israel and Palestine.

For the last eight years the situation in Palestine has worsened, not improved, and the Quartet’s efforts have been pitiful. Indeed when the Quartet appointed Tony Blair on his retirement as PM as their representative, then their efforts amounted to an insult to legitimate Palestinian grievances under successive UN resolutions.

After that vote, I and my Plaid Cymru colleagues continued to oppose the war in Iraq and campaign hard against it. Many will recall Adam Price’s superb efforts to impeach Blair for lying to Parliament. I pressed the case for legality in international affairs and UN leadership in ways varying from visiting Palestine to promoting the memory and example of Henry Richard

Which brings us now to Libya. Let’s acknowledge first that the Tories have learned the lesson of Iraq. Yesterday’s UN resolution was firm and unambiguous. I don’t have any doubts about the Attorney General’s views. It does not mandate occupation, but it does mandate military action to secure humanitarian aims. In this regard it seems to me to be in accordance with the St Petersburg principles – and the developments of them - which lie at the heart of Plaid Cymru’s approach to international affairs.
St Petersburg Declaration

I don’t deny that the action on Libya is ripe with hypocrisy. Cynics will talk of oil, Darfur, Rwanda, East Timor…and they are right. My own current example is that of the King of Bahrain, invited to “the wedding” (you know which one I mean) even as the UN human rights chief condemns his government for "blatant violation of international law".

But if I have learned anything in years of politics and trying to get things done, it is not to allow unreasonable perfection to drive out the good.

The UN resolution on Libya has led to a ceasefire (of sorts); the UK Parliament will vote on it on Monday; Gaddafi is using tremendous violence against protesters and promised “no mercy”. I believe what is being proposed so far is commensurate with the UN resolution. I support it, and I hope my Plaid Cymru colleagues – those anyway who do not have pacifist beliefs – will do so also.