Blair won't quit over Kelly's death

[lanlady]

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday he would accept responsibility if a probe into the suicide of a government scientist pointed to any wrongdoing by members of his government. Meanwhile, the British Broadcasting Corp. identified David Kelly as the main source for the report that the government exaggerated evidence of Iraq’s weapons.

THE PRIME Minister said in an interview with Britain’s Sky News television, he had no intention of resigning over the death of the Ministry of Defense biologist which has rocked his government.
He also rejected a request from the opposition to cut short a Far East trip and recall parliament to debate the case.

“In the end, the government is my responsibility,” Blair said, when asked if he would take the blame for any wrongdoing by his government. The interview was recorded in Japan. Asked if he had the appetite to continue in the job, he said: “Absolutely.”


“You’ve got to have broad shoulders in this job,” he added. “I’ve got them.”

http://www.msnbc.com/news/940959.asp?vts=072020031000&cp1=1

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Personally, I think he's just buying time. That pretty "history will judge us even if" speech had a fare-thee-well ring to it.

[patdem]

1. I accept responsibility as long as there are no consequences???

That is not accepting responsibility that is attempting to say, yeah get over it? :shrug:

[lanlady]

2. that's how I read it, too

Yankee Poodle Tony to self: Blast, I overdid it when my government hounded that chap to death. But I've got big shoulders. So let's move on, shall we? That's what my pal George always says. If it works for him, it'll work for me.

[goforit]

3. What a Heartless SOB!!!..........His lust for power takes priority!

:puke:

[LibertyorDeath]

4. OK where's the freak singing his praises.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Perhaps he shouldn't quit over Kelly's death

However, he should quit over the lies he told about Saddam's miloitary capability ahead of the war and for saying that the UN process should be respected one day and helping Bush with the rogue invasion of a svereign state the next.

[lanlady]

6. couldn't agree more!

Blair's acting as if the world would stop turning without him.

[indictrichardperle]

7. i think Poodle is going to resign

At least half of his own party wants him to step down, his approval rating is going to dip below 15 %. Give it a little more time, and he will be told to resign.

[lanlady]

11. I give him one, maybe two weeks max

Before the Kelly tragedy, I reckoned Tony would be gone by Sept. Now it may be a matter of days.

Then again, I haven't been in Britain in 10 years ago; what do I know?

[Snellius]

8. Can't the Parliament call a vote of no confidence?

I always thought the British PM, unlike the U.S. President, is really elected by his party as represented in the House of Commons. At what point, does the Labour Party decide that Tony Blair is more an embarrassment than as asset?

[Cocoa]

9. so he got his voice back, I guess

I was almost hoping he'd gone permanently mute, like something that might happen in a Greek tragedy. Oh, well.

[TankLV]

10. OK - how about because you're a lying SOB that can't be trusted anymore

and are principally, behind bunkerboy, of causing needless DEATHS then?