Iraq situation is 'grim': (UK's International Development Secretary) Benn

[deadparrot]

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's International Developement Secretary Hilary Benn said that the situation in Iraq was "grim" but said it was up to the Iraqi government to sort it out.

He said Wednesday that the country now had a democratically-elected government which had the "chance" to build something better for the future.

"It's grim, and there's no point pretending otherwise, particularly in those parts of the country where a lot of violence is taking place -- although it does tend to be concentrated in certain parts of Iraq," Benn told BBC radio.

He said the going was "tough" as the security situation in the country deteriorates.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/iraqbritainpolitics

[llmart]

1. Where the hell were all these so-called......

opinions before? Many of us here at DU called this mess what it is a looonnnnggg time ago and yet, all of a sudden every other headline is about somebody telling us how awful things are.

I still say anyone who supported this fiasco has blood on their hands. Ignorance is no excuse with me. The information was out there and millions protested against going to war.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[struggle4progress]

4. Coming attractions: US whines about how much US suffered for Iraq

and how little they appreciate US and how nobody suffers like US and how misunderstood US is

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ronnie624]

7. Interesting comment.

Can you elaborate?

[LynnTheDem]

9. Undoubtedly not.

Unless the talking idiots the likes of hannity have told it what to say.

Rightwingnuts cannot think for themselves.

[JoFerret]

3. Too bad Hilary did not inherit his father's politics

Tony Benn is always a voice to be listened to.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Perhaps related: Benn to enter deputy leadership race

Hilary Benn, the international development secretary, is preparing to join the contest to succeed John Prescott as deputy leader of the Labour party.

A parliamentary source confirmed that supporters of Mr Benn have begun to approach MPs to secure the 44 nominations - one eighth of the parliamentary Labour party - he needs to get his name on the ballot paper.

Mr Benn will be the fifth MP to throw his hat into the deputy leadership ring, alongside Harriet Harman, Jack Straw, Peter Hain and Jon Cruddas.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labourleadership/story/0,,1932096,00.html

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. "...but said it was up to the Iraqi government to sort it out." WTF?

[burrowowl]

8. GRIM!

From the start of the so-called war over .5 million deaths not due to natural causes. During the time 12 years after Gulf War 1, 500,000!
Under Saddam 300,000 in 24 years!
Go calculate! Who is the biggest terrorist? Is the U$ winning friend and influencing people?