UK prepared to use force, says Hoon

BRITISH Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon yesterday confirmed Britain was preparing for military action against Iraq.

Mr Hoon said the international community’s willingness to use force was a factor in Saddam Hussein’s change of attitude towards weapons inspectors but stressed military action would be a last resort.

He refused to elaborate on details of dates or tactics but said Saddam had to be shown that “we mean business”.

He added he expected Iraq to comply with UN demands.

Mr Hoon said: “We are preparing, and indeed it’s clear that the response of Iraq to the United Nations has been determined by the fact that we have shown our willingness to use military force should that become necessary.”

Questioned over whether Britain would be ready for a offensive early next year and what its tactics might be, he said: “I don’t think it would be sensible at this stage to go into that kind of detail but clearly the US and the UK have had a range of military plans available as we do in the event of contingencies developing anywhere in the world. We’ve got to be ready, I don’t want to put any specific dates on that but I assure you we are prepared.”

Mr Hoon said that “we have to show Saddam Hussein we mean business”.

He added: “That has been the position for some time now and indeed it does reflect the change in attitude.

“Not many months ago Iraq was saying that they would never ever accept the return of weapons inspectors.

“We’re obviously expecting them now to accept the will of the international community. That is because we have been prepared to indicate a determination to use force should it become necessary but I want to emphasise that is a last resort.”

The Defence Secretary said that in the event of Iraq’s non-compliance “everyone has accepted that there would be a need for a further United Nations discussion”.

Meanwhile, British Cabinet tensions over Iraq bubbled to the surface last night as International Development Secretary Clare Short said it was for the UN security council to decide whether military action was launched if Saddam failed to disarm.

Her stance puts her at odds with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US president George W Bush, who have made it clear that they do not regard the use of military force as being conditional on further decisions by the security council.