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http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/2002032901681500.htm The Hindu March 29, 2002 Blair aide advocates `new imperialism' By Hasan Suroor LONDON MARCH 28. A senior foreign policy adviser of the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has infuriated Labour supporters, including MPs, by advocating a "new kind of imperialism'' which would allow the "well-governed'' Western nations to impose order and stability on the world. Mr. Robert Cooper, who was personally appointed by Mr Blair to represent Britain at the Bonn conference on Afghanistan last year and whose views are believed to have shaped the latter's response to the post-Sept 11 crisis, has called for "defensive imperialism'' to deal with threats from "undemocratic'' states. Significantly, the pamphlet, "Reordering the World", in which he outlines this controversial idea, has a foreword by Mr Blair who is already facing a split in the Cabinet over his aggressive stance on Iraq amid growing anxiety that Britain is being dragged into avoidable overseas military adventures. Mr Cooper emphasises the "need for colonisation'' and regrets that there are "no colonial powers'' willing to rise to the occasion. "Empire and imperialism are words that have become terms of abuse in the post-modern world... though the opportunities, perhaps even the need for colonisation is as great as it ever was in the 19th century,'' he says, provoking sharp condemnation from across the liberal opinion. One Labour MP said it was akin to advocating "enlightened slavery _ it just doesn't make sense''. Tam Dalyell, the most senior member of the Commons and known as the "father of the House'', ridiculed the idea saying the "Tsarina of Russia was better advised by Rasputin than the Prime Minister is by this man.'' Commentators said that though Mr Cooper had been a staunch supporter of a more proactive European role in international affairs, his latest "outburst'' was provocative even by his own standards. The Prime Minister, they said, had sent out a wrong signal by appearing to endorse it, particularly at a time when he was being accused by his own colleagues of hobnobbing with the more right-wing European leaders. Media reports said Mr Cooper's views had caused "outrage'' among Labour MPs. The controversy erupted even as Mr Blair came under increased pressure to listen to the dissenting voices within the party. A senior party MP and chairperson of a Commons select committee, Gwyneth Dunwoody, warned that the "patience of Labour MPs would be tested beyond breaking point'' if he decided to back any U.S. military action against Iraq without proper consultations. The Government, she said, could not "expect automatic support'' . "Listen to your MPs, Mr Blair, before it's too late,'' she wrote in The Independent. The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, admitted that there were "sensitivities'' over Iraq and some domestic issues but shrugged off any threat to Mr Blair's leadership saying: "Nobody is suggesting that Tony Blair would be changed as leader.'' His comment came after the party's national executive gave a harrowing time to Mr Blair at its meeting on Tuesday over his Government's drift to the right. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover http://greetings.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
