DUNCAN SMITH PLEDGES PARTY'S SUPPORT FOR BLAIR

DailyRecord ^ | Mar 15 2003 | staff

[fight_truth_decay]

Iain Duncan Smith has pledged not to play "political games" over the Iraq crisis.

He says he will offer his party's support to Tony Blair as he "does the right thing".

But he made clear he reserved the right to criticise the Prime Minister's conduct of any war, warning him that there would be "no blank cheques".

Dealing with Saddam was in the interests of the British people and of international peace and security, which must take precedence over party political interests, said Mr Duncan Smith.

In an emergency address to the Conservatives' spring conference in Harrogate, Mr Duncan Smith said the party faced a "dilemma" over whether to back a Government they believed to be failing the country over issues like public services and tax.

But he added: "When the Prime Minister does something that is right, when he does something that I believe will benefit the British people and help bring peace to this part of the region, I believe, notwithstanding our other concerns, it is in the British interest for us to support him if he does what is right for Britain.

"That is why I have taken the course that I have. It is not giving him a blank cheque, it is not saying 'Do as you will'. It is saying 'Do the right thing and if you do the right thing, then we will do the right thing by you and give you that support'."

He won loud applause from his 1,000-strong audience as he said: "If people want me to play political games with this, I say I'm sorry I will not do it.

"I will not do it because (the British people's) interests matter more than the short-term interests of any single political party."

[Grampa Dave]

News like this makes me proud to have the Scottish blood flowing in my veins! The leftists of Scotland are forgotten when this news hits!

[DoughtyOne]

Haven't the Democrats done the same thing in this nation?
 

Ah ha ha ha ha, ah ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha, whooooie, ahhhhh ha ha ha ha

[Luis Gonzalez]

[Churchillspirit]

And they will be led into battle by their piper - as they have done in every conflict, including the first Gulf war.

[Antoninus]

He won loud applause from his 1,000-strong audience as he said: "If people want me to play political games with this, I say I'm sorry I will not do it. I will not do it because (the British people's) interests matter more than the short-term interests of any single political party."

This is an excellent example of principle and patriotism over politics. Three cheers for Iain Duncan Smith.

For an example of the polar opposite, see the Demcrat (Socialist) party in the USA. Politics is their religion.

[Antoninus]

Don't forget that ol' Tony intends to become a Catholic soon.....

[Mister Baredog]

Scotland's most senior regiment were proud to show the colours yesterday

Scotland has a long and proud tradition of fighting in every war they can find to fight in. Amazing people, you have to love the Scots!

[Churchillspirit]

The blue saltire is the national flag of Scotland. The rampant lion is the royal standard and should only be flown in the presence of royalty or, in the case of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, with the Queen's permission.

God bless the dragoons and all our brave forces in the gulf - UK; US and all the coalition.

[Calpublican]

Alert: Calvinists massing for attack.

Amen. We're predestined to win!

[GraniteStateConservative]

He'd be a pretty damn liberal one. He'd be as comfortable as someone like Joe Lieberman in the GOP-- maybe less comfortable than Joe even.

[OldFriend]

Thank the man for putting principle over party. Something sorely lacking in the democrat party in the good old USA.

How pathetic are daschle and company.

[Maeve]

The Flower of Scotland

1.
O flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

2.
The hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

3.
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
And stood against him
Proud Edward's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

Words and music: Roy Williamson. (c) The Corries (Music) Ltd.
Website: http://www.corries.com/

[RnMomof7]

Alert: Calvinists massing for attack.

Democratic Republic soon to follow...never take a Scot too lightly :>)

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Arran Go Braugh!

(free forever!)

[Revenge Of Daffy-Duck]

Re: SCOTLAND'S cavalry flying the Lion Rampant as they go into battle in Iraq.

Do you have a news link for this by any chance? I have some friends and relatives that would like to hear about this.

[MattAMiller]

Iain Duncan Smith has pledged not to play "political games" over the Iraq crisis.

What? You mean he's not selling his country out for political gain? What a novel idea! Somebody get Daschle and Kerry on the phone.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

This is outstanding. In the the 1950s, Ike faced a Republican party hellbent on isolationsism. When LBJ became majority leader, he got the Democrats to line up solidly behind Ike. This put Ike in debt to the Dems and divided the GOP in the 1954 elections. As a result, the Dems took control of Congress back from the GOP. The Tories could use this as a wedge as well. However, the Tories are still hopeless.

[fight_truth_decay]

"Do you have a news link for this by any chance"

LIONS RAMPANT Mar 15 2003


Scots lads will ride into Iraq battle behind our nation's ancient flag

Words: Simon Houston Pictures: Tony Nicoletti In Northern Kuwait



SCOTLAND'S cavalry will fly the Lion Rampant as they roll into battle in Iraq.

The honour of carrying our nation's ancient emblem is given by the Queen to the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

And the tank troops of Scotland's most senior regiment were proud to show the colours yesterday as they trained in the Kuwaiti desert for the looming war against Saddam Hussein.

Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Blackman, the regiment's commanding officer, watched as the Lion Rampant was fixed to the top of his Challenger II tank.

It will inspire his men if the order comes to cross the Iraqi border.

The regiment was given the privilege as the first Scots cavalry unit.

A spokesman for the battle group in Kuwait said: "It has long been an enormous honour for the regiment to be able to fly the flag.

"Whenever a new colonel takes command, he is granted an audience with Her Majesty the Queen. It is obviously a very proud moment for all concerned.

"The commanding officer's tank is distinguishable because it is the only one in the battle group flying the Lion Rampant."

Colonel Blackman is one of only two Scots officially allowed to fly the Lion Rampant. The other is the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the man who looks after the nation's heraldic emblems.

In theory, anyone else who dares display the Scottish royal flag can be charged with treason and executed under a law dating back to 1679.

So next time you go to a Scotland game, watch out!

Colonel Blackman and his men have the comfort of knowing that their flag is fully legal.

They also have total confidence in the massive war machine that will carry them into battle.

The Challenger II tank sailed through a series of final tests yesterday on a shooting range near the Iraqi border.

Critics had feared a repeat of the problems on desert exercises in Oman last year, when a shortage of air filters saw some Challengers grind to a halt.

But senior officers of the 7th Armoured Brigade, the "Desert Rats" believe that is all in the past.

Colonel Blackman said : "There was some hysteria surrounding Challenger II's performance in Oman, but we are confident all is well this time.

"We have enough air filters, and they are lasting longer than expected.

"And the sand here is easier to deal with than in Oman, where it is much finer.

"Challenger II is a magnificent piece of kit, and we were proud to have been chosen as the first regiment to take it into operation three years ago."

I travelled through the early hours of Friday alongside a group of 14 Challenger IIs. The tanks tackled more than 30miles of desert without any hitches.

They were joined by other tanks from the Scots battle group for training on the firing range.

The exercise allowed the troops to check the accuracy of their gun sights.

And controversially, it included the use of depleted uranium shells.

DU weapons are made of waste from the process of making nuclear weapons. The metal is nearly twice as dense as lead, making it ideal for armour- piercing shells.

But some veteran groups blame DU for soldiers' health problems after the last Gulf War. They fear dust from the shells may pose a radiation hazard or cause heavy metal poisoning.

The Ministry of Defence says there us no reliable evidence linking DU to ill-health.

The Challenger II's 120mm gun can destroy any known tank or armoured vehicle with one shot.

The tank's fire control system can tackle multiple targets at once, and a thermal imaging system hailed as the best in the world makes the Challenger just as deadly at night.

The tank carries a 7.62mm machine gun to take on lighter vehicles and infantry.

It can cross ground too rough for other vehicles at speeds of up to 36mph, and has a range of more than 270miles.

The four-man crew have air conditioning in their cab, which also protects them against nuclear, biological and chemical attacks.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/page.cfm?objectid=12737761&method=full&siteid=89488

It is the same source as the story posted. Posted the story in case it is not available when you check.

[kimchi lover]

My Grandfather was born in Glasgow. YOU GO, SCOTTS!

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

It's a fine day to be a Presbyterian of Scottish & English decent, born in Texas, and having a fine, honorable, Christian, Texan as President.

Now that I've been nice, wind the pipes and ATTACK! It's time to kill some people and break things.