Liberal-Democrats' Kennedy, Blasts Blair and Bush ...

CHARLES KENNEDY


Liberal Democrats' leader Charles Kennedy, turned on the tough talk today at his party's annual conference at Blackpool. And boy, did he blast Blair and Bush.

Here's how the BBC began their online report re; today's tirade on Tony, by Charlie.

Kennedy says Blair costing lives

Tony Blair's pride and his "blind support" for George Bush are costing lives in Iraq, says Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy.

Mr Kennedy told the Lib Dem conference in Blackpool the presence of UK troops in Iraq was now part of the problem.

And he claimed the "war on terror" had increased the threat of terrorism.

Abso-sodding-lutely!

As anyone with an IQ over eight would have difficulty in disagreeing with, says This Old Brit.

So, what further flames came forth from the fiery headed, Lib-Dem-Celt-in-Command?

The speech saw the Lib Dem leader harden his rhetoric on Iraq as he derided Mr Blair's attempts to "move on" from debate on the Iraq war.

He said: "You cannot move on, when the prime minister remains in denial.

Then, like a terrier with it's teeth deep into a T-bone, he tore another one in Tone.

"You can't move on when people are dying every day. And you cannot move on when our British troops are still in the firing line.

"After this week's events in Basra we cannot sustain the myth that Iraqis see coalition troops as liberators. What they see is an occupation.

"The prime minister's pride should not get in the way of finding a solution for the people of Iraq.

"His blind support for George Bush is continuing to cost lives - Iraqi citizens and coalition soldiers.

"It's time he laid out before Parliament a proper, structured exit strategy for the phased withdrawal of British forces from Iraq."

Three cheers for Charles, eh?

Mr Kennedy said British troops had "served with distinction, courage and great skill" but made a personal appeal to Mr Blair to bring them home.

"Please listen, as you didn't before, to millions of people in our country, who are asking louder and louder as every day goes by - 'when can our troops go home?'

One can't stop a canny Scot like this, once he's started.

Hoots mon! Make my day!

And he said George Bush and Mr Blair's "so-called war on terror has been so badly implemented that it has actually boosted the terror threat not diminished it".

Kapow, Mr Kennedy. Keep it coming. Carry on.

Turning to the government's proposed anti-terror laws, he accused Mr Blair of playing politics with the leaders of the opposition parties by appearing to include them in discussions, then attempting to "spin" the outcome.

( snip )

Mr Kennedy received loud applause when he pledged not to transform the Lib Dems into "another Conservative party".

And how could one one not love this last little lambasting?

He also spoke up in favour of proportional representation, saying Mr Blair's "final defence" on Iraq was that the war would "help establish democracy".

That argument, Mr Kennedy, said "would have been a damn sight more persuasive if he had started here in Britain first."

Damn right, my mate.

You can read the rest of the Beeb's report at the first link -- and follow the full text of the speech at the second.

1./ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4269622.stm

2./ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4271902.stm