Year: 2003
Type: article
Abstract: O n 26 February 2003, British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced the largest parliamentary rebellion in over a hundred years.Some 120 of his Labour Party colleagues voted against the government's policy of support for US military action against Iraq.Earlier that month, more than one million people had taken to the streets of London to protest against the prospect of war, while respondents to a UK Internet poll had voted America the country that posed the greatest threat to world peace.The UK's major partners in Europe-France and Germany-also opposed Britain's stance, the government having singularly failed in its self-appointed role of providing a bridge of understanding between Europe and the United States.Prime Minister Blair faced personal attacks in the media, being frequently portrayed as America's lap dog; even Nelson Mandela referred to him disapprovingly as the foreign minister of the United States.The Prime Minister's political survival itself seemed to be at stake.In the face of such pressures, it would have been understandable if the British government had taken a less determined position on Iraq.In spite of the oft-touted "special relationship," British and American governments have not always seen eye-to-eye during international crises.But that was not the case.Notwithstanding dissension and resignations from his Cabinet, Prime Minister Blair's advocacy of the Bush Administration's hard line on Iraq hardly wavered, diplomatic support remained constant and vigorous, 2003-04
Author: James K. Wither
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W205757983