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Blair predicts unity on Iraq
LONDON, England (CNN) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair says countries that have expressed doubts about a U.S.-led military attack on Iraq will change their minds if Iraq is proved to have breached U.N. Resolution 1441, which requires it disarm. But Blair told the BBC on Thursday that if one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council vetoed a second resolution, he would support an attack. "Supposing, in circumstances where there plainly was a breach of Resolution 1441, and everyone else wished to take action, and one of them put down a veto ... then I think it would be wrong [not to attack], because otherwise you couldn't uphold the U.N., because you would have passed your resolution and you would have failed to act on it." Blair said such a veto would represent the only scenario under which he would support an attack on Iraq without a second resolution, adding: "If someone vetoes wrongly, what can we do?" The prime minister, a strong supporter of U.S. policy on Iraq, told the Newsnight programme he believed a second resolution would be passed. Polls show many Britons do not support military intervention in Iraq, but Blair predicted that their sentiment would change with another resolution. Criticism of Blair has also emerged from outside Britain. Asked whether he was embarrassed that Nelson Mandela had called him the "American foreign minister," Blair said: "I have a huge respect for Nelson Mandela, but I don't feel that I'm doing the wrong thing. "I may not be doing the easy thing, but I'm doing the right thing." However, Blair acknowledged he would have a tough time in the polls if Britain joined the attack without a new vote. "If there were a second U.N. resolution, then I think people would be behind me. If there is not, then there is a lot of persuading to do." George W. Bush and Blair both contend that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction, in defiance of U.N. resolutions demanding it disarm. Iraq denies the charge. France, China and Russia -- all veto holders on the council -- have questioned Bush's policy. They want weapons inspectors given more time. Divisions remain in Europe, with France and Germany the strongest opponents of military action. "Saddam Hussein must disarm," said German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer on Thursday. "Saddam Hussein must cooperate fully with the inspection teams. ... But we are working (for) the full implementation of the Resolution 1441 without the use of force."
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