BRITAIN: The "Father" of the House of Commons, Mr Tam Dalyell, has called for "regime change" in Downing Street on the eve of tomorrow's emergency Westminster debate on Iraq.
In an interview with The Irish Times, the veteran Labour MP launches his most outspoken attack yet on Mr Tony Blair, questioning the British Prime Minister's moral purpose on the international stage, accusing him of extreme belligerence and of regarding war "as an instrument of foreign policy".
He condemns Mr Blair's support for a US campaign driven by "Texas oil men", again describing advocates of military action as "chicken hawks".
While agreeing that Mr Blair and President Bush must seek a fresh UN mandate, Mr Dalyell draws a possible question mark over the legitimacy of any emerging Security Council resolution because of "arm twisting" at the United Nations.
"If it was the unfettered judgment of the UN as a whole, I would naturally go along with it," he says. He predicts that, while Russia might "cave in" to US/UK demands for a resolution authorising the use of force, China will not.
Mr Dalyell, who led the demands for the recall of parliament, describes the government's decision to release its dossier of "evidence" against Mr Saddam Hussein just hours ahead of tomorrow's debate as "an insult" to the House of Commons.
"If they were so sure, why didn't they produce it a week beforehand so that it could be argued out on the anvil of informed opinion," he demands. "That's where I think there is sheer bad faith."
Asked about the prospects for a serious Labour rebellion at the end of tomorrow's debate, Westminster's longest-serving MP says he has "seen too many dissenting votes evaporate when the \ whips get to work" to trust them until he sees them counted.
Likewise, with Overseas Development Secretary Ms Clare Short again expressing her doubts ahead of today's cabinet meeting, Mr Dalyell says: "I'll believe cabinet resignations when I see them."
He says Iraq's decision to re-admit weapons inspectors entitles them to expect discussion about other matters, vitally sanctions and ongoing allied bombings.
Asked about reports that the US will block the return of inspectors pending a fresh UN resolution, Mr Dalyell says: "It is almost a litmus test. And if they're blocking inspectors it swings me round to a view that I preferred not to believe for a long time, namely that it is not about weapons of mass destruction, let alone a threat to western Europe or the US - that it's about Middle Eastern oil. And the people who are doing it are Texas oil men, incidentally, chicken hawks most of them."
On the reason for inspections: does Mr Dalyell actually believe Saddam is developing weapons of mass destruction? "I don't know," he replies: "He may or may not be for defensive weapons but I think it's unlikely that he's amassing sufficient to attack either Israel or western Europe. And it's not only a question of getting weapons, it's intention to use them. If he used them against Israel, let alone western Europe or the United States, the retaliation would be absolutely massive."
And are there any circumstances in which he would support action against Saddam? "If he was to invade one of his neighbours, yes," confirms Mr Dalyell, although he thought the Kuwaiti situation "was many shades of grey".
Citing the West's original role in arming Iraq against Iran, Mr Dalyell suggests Britain and the US are without great moral authority on this issue and should talk to Iraq "on terms of dignity".
Right or wrong, many people believe Mr Blair acts in these matters out of a highly developed personal moral code. Mr Dalyell is unimpressed: "I don't think it's a personal moral code, I think he's extremely belligerent. It's a curious moral code that bombs the hell out of Afghans . . . The situation in Afghanistan now is appalling."
One previous report had him suggesting "fame" was the "spur" for Mr Blair. Does he really think that? "I'm angrier with him than with any politician in my lifetime. Because you see he led the Americans in my view in the bombing of Belgrade, saying he was going to rebuild the Balkans. He's done nothing of the kind. I didn't vote for him [as Labour leader\] but God knows I wished him well and now, from my point of view, he regards war as an instrument of foreign policy."
Presumably, then, he'd like to see him gone? Mr Dalyell - honorary member of the Mess of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards - doesn't flinch: "Yes. I make no bones about it. I'm now of the view that there ought to be regime change in Downing Street."
To Mr Blair's pledge to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the Americans, Mr Dalyell asks: "But which Americans?"
Placing himself in the company of US generals from the first Gulf War and members of the first Bush administration now urging caution, Mr Dalyell rounds off his attack with a neat piece of personal biography: "I'm not going to be labelled by Blair or anybody else as anti-American. . . I share great, great, great grandparents with Harry Truman."