The Sketch: I believe everything the MPs said on Iraq. Except that 'bringing peace' bit
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Your support makes all the difference.The thing about the debate on Iraq, I find, is that I agree with almost everything that's said. Here are unarguable excerpts from yesterday's proceedings.
"What has changed Saddam Hussein's mind? The threat of force. The only persuasive power to which he responds is 250,000 troops on his doorstep." Tony Blair.
"Only two members of the present Cabinet and no Tories at all signed the early day motions in the 1980s calling on the Government to stop selling arms to Iraq." Robert Wareing.
"If the House demands troops are pulled back at the point of reckoning, what will Saddam Hussein think? That the will confronting them is decayed and feeble." Tony Blair.
"It is dangerous if such regimes disbelieve us." Tony Blair.
"The night of the 'reckless speech' of the International Development Secretary, we knew the Prime Minister would have his revenge. In view of her spectacular failure to resign, we see that his revenge has been to persuade her to remain in Cabinet for another 24 hours." William Hague.
"I have never been concerned about the narrow legality of the case. As a former Home Office minister, the last thing you want, when things are difficult, is more lawyers." John Denham.
"The distinct distastefulness of that regime." The Unknown Tory.
"It's the Prime Minister who has changed his position. Even a month ago he was said he'd go to war only if the weapons inspectors said they couldn't make progress; if there was an unreasonable veto from one country, and he had a majority on the Security Council. When did he change his mind and why?" Alex Salmond.
"If there is a war, thousands or tens of thousands of people will be killed. I cannot find a sufficient moral case to condemn so many to death and injury." Douglas Hogg.
"What about the suffering of the Kurds? The two million dead in the war against Iran? The 7,000 Saddam Hussein has gassed?" Mike Gapes.
"There are glib and foolish comparisons made with 1939. There are no appeasers in this House." Tony Blair.
"The Prime Minister made much of appeasement in 1936. The only person I've ever appeased was Mrs Kilfoyle. And that not very successfully." Peter Kilfoyle.
"Mr Fabricant, you must calm yourself." The Speaker.
"People agreed to 1441 on different bases." Charles Kennedy.
"The Scott inquiry made it clear that the Conservative government supplied no chemical warfare agents to Saddam Hussein." Crispin Blunt.
"What could be more calculated to be a recruiting sergeant for terrorism than putting 600 cruise missiles into Baghdad?" Tam Dalyell.
"If they believe this will be a recruiting sergeant they are mistaken. We must not just sit there ready for action but occasionally take it, so that those who aspire to terrorism will know what will happen to them." William Hague.
"War is hell? Peace can be hell." Bruce George.
"Shoulder our responsibility. Seize the moment. Stand firm. Act." The Unknown Tory .
"Put your trust in the Prime Minister. We will bring peace to the Middle East." Nicholas Winterton.
Yes, I agreed with everything. Except, obviously, that last one.
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