>Disclaimer: I'm not taking sides on this issue.
>
>I have always wondered why Blair was so quick to back an Iraq invasion. This is counter to:
>- almost every other major industrialized nation
>- his own party
>- the will of the British
>
>I often thought it there was some backroom economic deal, but could it be because the Blair owes the US? After Sept 11th, the US stopped Amercian nationals from funding the IRA by clamping down on groups such as NORAID. This was a major funding source for the IRA and basically took the wind out of them. Because of this the Brits have had a major domestic terrorist campaign against them endend.
>http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/oct2001/ire-o31.shtml
>
>Any ideas or other facts on this issue?

An interesting thought that I haven't heard raised here. The "Good Friday Agreement" was signed in April 1998 & the peace process, including weapons decommissioning, was underway well before Sept 11th. By then there was very little IRA terrorist activity, outside fighting between rival factions & vigilante punishment beatings (eg against drug dealers). Cutting off the funds post Sept. 11th may have speeded things up slightly, but not by enough for Blair to be so pro-Bush against the wishes of the people & parliament of this country & of his own party.