Chat Ed : Welcome to this evening's CHANNEL 4 NEWS chat with Tony Benn – here to discuss his interview with Saddam Hussein.
Tony Benn : I'm so pleased you have all logged on. I hope I can answer all your questions, I'll try and deal with them as best as I can.
Ritsos : It is being said that the interview with Saddam was a missed opportunity and that he gave the answers that everyone would have expected. Do you think that this was a missed opportunity or that some good will have come from it?
Tony Benn : I went to seek a way for peace. What he said in my opinion proves the inspectors should be given more time and confirms that killing Iraqis in a few weeks will make it far worse.
James Armstrong : Without the threat of war would we have inspectors in Iraq now?
Tony Benn : I cannot answer that question, but I know that if the threat of war is real the human cost will be colossal, the war could spread and the legacy of bitterness could darken the lives of our children and grand-children for hundreds of years.
steven_H : Do you think its almost farcical that Blair should protest that 'there might be no war' while simultaneously moving 30000 British troops/carriers/special forces et al to the Gulf?
Tony Benn : I'm afraid I do not believe everything I am told by governments. I think the decision to go to war was made months ago and the inspectors are a bluff to justify it.
James Tomkinson : do you think that the media can be used to effectively portray an anti-war message? in view of its oneside nature especially
Scott Gooseman : Mr Benn, do you think that the Channel 4 News interview with `you' was at all biased?
Tony Benn : The media have weapons of mass destruction more powerful than the military because they can make good people actually want to kill. I have no complaint about Channel 4 but aggressive interviewing gets you nowhere. That is why I asked Saddam simple questions, to hear what he wanted to say.
4peace : Tony, did you believe Sadam to be sincere in his replies to your questions?
Tony Benn : I think he said enough to justify my belief that we should continue to work for peace. Is it not amazing that Mr Blair or Mr Bush have not sent senior officials to do what I did in Baghdad?
stopthewar : do you think there is any hope of a significant Labour party revolt if it does come to war?
Tony Benn : I am not interested in a Labour party revolt. I am interested in a mass movement. I believe every government has to listen to the people in the end. The Prime Minister's contempt for Parliament is fundamentally undemocratic.
R : Can Tony Benn suggest an alternative way of dealing with Saddam? Does he think that Saddam needs to be dealt with?
Tony Benn : I think that the sanctions which have killed over a million Iraqis and the bombing that has gone on since 1998 have strengthened Saddam, just as the blitz in Britain in 1940 strengthened Churchill. The Iraqi people cannot choose their own leader while this goes on.
femalestudent17 : Do you believe Saddam Husein has weapons of mass destruction?
Tony Benn : I do not know. But the inspectors sent to Iraq have not found any and the British and American governments who say Iraq has them have not given their information to the inspectors.
Daniel Hamilton : Mr. Benn, do you honestly beleive that this conflict can be halted or is any demonstration and mass movement just delaying the inevitable?
Tony Benn : Yes I do. How did women get the vote when Parliament was against it? How did apartheid end when Mandela was in jail? Why has the Prime Minister abandoned his referendum on the Euro? These are examples of popular victories against governments.
Ann : I just want to say hats off to Tony Benn, we need more people in the world with his compassion.
fday00 : I have just seen you on channel 4 and want to see a very very big well done to you and they way to handel the news reader.
Simon : What is your view of Saddam's opinion that the USA is pushing for hegemony in the world?
Tony Benn : I was born in an empire - the British Empire. The biggest empire in the history of the world is the American empire with weapons that could destroy any country and seems ready to use them for oil and power, but, like the British Empire it will end.
helen bashford : If you had to give your honest opinion who would you say was causing more damage to this world President Bush or Saddam Hussain?
Tony Benn : Anyone who challenges the charter of the United Nations is a threat to peace and we must make it work for our children and grandchildren.
keven : Do you believe a change of regime would benfit Iraq,obviously without the use of force?
undecided : Would the children of Iraq be safer without Saddam?
Tony Benn : I think the people of Iraq must be free to choose their own leader and they cannot do it while sanctions continue and they are threatened with war which would kill hundreds of thousands.
PaddyChatting : Tony, i'd like to come and show my support at the peace rally. What else can i do to encourage my elected reps to stop this war
caspell : In your estimation, what percentage of Labour MPs are strongly against the war?
Tony Benn : I cannot speak for Labour MPs as a whole, but many oppose it. Talk about the war at your place of work, your factory, your office, your school, your church, your village hall and your pubs and cafes... hat is what shapes our thinking and it is better than sitting and watching television of Prime Ministers in Parliament.
maledictis : What do you think of Nelson Mandela's suggestion that the US and UK thought less of the viewpoints of the UN secretary general because he is black?
Tony Benn : The problem is not as simple as that. I would like Mandela to lead a delegation of Nobel Peace Prize winners to go to Baghdad and negotiate a settlement and while they were there it would be hard for Mr Blair and Mr Bush to kill them with a bombardment.
Chris12345 : With all the propoganda flying around, how are we supposed to form a view for ourselves when we don't know what is the truth and what isn't?
Tony Benn : Everybody has to work out for themselves what they think and it is hard because of propaganda. Our conscience tells us what is right and we should try to follow it.
DavidR : So you believe that Colin Powel will have nothing to show tomorrow?
Tony Benn : I do not know what Colin Powell will say, but I would rather believe the inspectors who tell us that they have found nothing and I suspect Colin Powell is using his statement to whip up a demand for war.
dduncan : In your opinion which government is keeping the most hidden from the UN, the US or Iraq?
Tony Benn : I think Iraq has defied the UN and the inspectors are there to bring them into line. I think Bush issued an ultimatum to the UN and seems prepared to tear up the charter which demands a peaceful settlement of international disputes.
james pierson : With all due to respect to you I find it disturbing that such an icon of the left can sit in a room with, and be so respectful to, a tyrant like Saddam Hussein. Are you not worried that your legitimate calls for peace are being co-opted by him in defence of his regime?
Tony Benn : If we want peace we have to talk. I heard Winston Churchill say 'Jaw jaw is better than war war' and I agree with him.
jennyt : do you think that the Iraqi people would sort themselves out if there were no sanctions and no war?
Tony Benn : The only hope for democracy in Iraq is if they are allowed to develop their society in peace and for 10 years they have been starved and bombed and have rallied round their leader even if they hate him.
Maxi : Why didnt Tony benn mention the to sudam , the attack on kuwait ?
Tony Benn : The attack on Kuwait was an act of aggression and Saddam was responsible, but he was encouraged by the American Ambassador in Baghdad to go in and I believe that was deliberate.
Anwar : Do you believe Mr Chirac was persueded war?
Tony Benn : I hope not. I have appealed to the French Ambassador to ask President Chirac to use his veto against war and for peace.
Pip : Why are Bush & Blair not as forceful regarding N Korea (without the spin please.)
Tony Benn : I think from what Bush and Blair have said the next war they plan is against North Korea. That will pose special dangers too. So we must be watchful there too.
PaddyChatting : You refused to sign the Mirror's petition because it allows for a war with UN backing. So do you deny the right of the UN to be the ultimate arbiter of international disputes by applying the ultimate sanction?
Tony Benn : If the war does not have the support of the security council it will be a war of aggression and those who make it will be guilty of war crimes. If the UN supports it, it will be legal, but wrong because of the suffering and the consequences and I would not support it knowing the Americans had bullied the Security Council into agreeing
LordPeter : How big do you think the turnout will be on the 15th and will the government take any notice of it what-so-ever?
Tony Benn : All I know about the size of the demonstration is that the media will try to downplay it and I also know that that no television company will report a single speech made, looking instead for trouble, but I do believe no government can defy the opinion of its own people.
Nik : Mr Benn, how do YOU propose the Iraqi situation be settled?
Tony Benn : We need a peace conference under the UN for the whole of the middle-east, with weapons inspectors in Israel as well as Iraq and the Palestinians must have their state for without that there can be no peace.
LB : Is there any chance that the UK will pull out if the US go it alone ithout UN backing?
Tony Benn : If Blair said to Bush I cannot support you, Bush would find it hard to go to war alone because the Americans remember the Vietnam war and Blair provides political cover which he needs to win support in America.
John B : I'd like to thank Mr Benn for his efforts to stop this madness
Pip : Well done Tony...non religious blessings to you and yours...
Tony Benn : Thank you to the many millions who are campaigning for peace, we are not alone, 90% of the human race support us. I could not have forgiven myself if I had not tried.
LordPeter : Thanks Tony!
Chetan : Tony Tony Tony!!!!!
