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Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, has just written to Liberal Democrat members summarising the party’s position on the Iran crisis:
We are living in dangerous times.
The assassination of a key Iranian leader, General Suleinami, ordered by President Trump, has raised tensions across the Middle East.
It’s too early to know if today’s inevitable if unacceptable Iranian response will lead to further US retaliation but huge diplomatic efforts must be made now to de-escalate.
Britain must continue to work with European allies to lead that diplomacy.
And to help reduce tensions, Prime Minister Johnson must rule out British involvement in any attack on sites in Iran.
We must not allow President Trump to drag the UK into yet another war, like Iraq.
Liberal Democrats were right to lead the opposition to the Iraq War – which proved so damaging to peace and security across the Middle East.
Now we must remember the lessons of that illegal war.
Boris Johnson’s unwillingness to stand up firmly as a critical friend to the White House is lamentable.
Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the Conservatives to account if they yet again fail to show true leadership and fail to follow international law and a strategy of engagement in the Middle East, side-by-side with our European partners.
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8 Comments
It’s now 9am on Friday morning and still no comments on this report (dated 5.05pm on Wednesday). Could it be that LDV contributors entirely agree with the sentiments inn the last paragraph? Or are they just not that interested in something that could have ramifications far more serious than Brexit, gender equality, illiberal is, or whatever else goes the Lib Dem juices flowing?
Come on folks, what DO you think?
Come on now. Let’s hear from you, if only to correct my typos!
John – I do not believe there will be another war – Iran cannot afford one.
I thought the most interesting development was reported by the Mirror:
Iran offers $80million bounty for Donald Trump’s head after death of general:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/iran-offers-80million-bounty-donald-21219180
It seems to me that this move will worry Trump deeply – given his obsession with money. I will be surprised to see him return to his buoyant self in the near future.
Sent in a post on Wednesday, John, (not in my name) but it got ‘taken out’. Don’t know why.
It’s a very dangerous thing to have a narcissistic US President practicing brinkmanship to get re-elected, innocent people get killed. The UK should stick to Harold Wilson’s policy over Vietnam.
If you put your hand in a wasps nest you get stung.
“The UK should stick to Harold Wilson’s policy over Vietnam. ”
Seconded!
@David
“Sent in a post on Wednesday, John, (not in my name)”
Absolutely intriguing! Who is your ‘alter ego’ ?
“expats”? “frankie”? “Jayne Mansfield”?
Do tell!
“The UK should stick to Harold Wilson’s policy over Vietnam.”
He considered it to be an area of French influence.
The Middle East is different.
The US can hardly afford another war, either. It should be remembered that the Iraq invasion succeeded in part because Saddam’s forces had already been undermined and large parts of the defence simply melted away. Iran’s defences would be more obdurate as they have shown in the past. No president, especially in an election year, can afford the appearance of videos of the bodies of American soldiers being shipped home.
Of course, the US could always try to bomb Iran “back to the stone age”.