Low Earth Orbit

Tony Blair survives war vote in the House of Commons

Prime Minister Tony Blair had some problems with Labor back benchers but still scored a strong victory, 412 to 149, in favor of invading Iraq with the US. Blair gave a very powerful speech, saying among things “Who will celebrate and who will weep if we pull our troops back now?”. The BBC of course spun this as a loss for Blair because of the large number of Labor back benchers who voted against. Still, carrying with over two thirds doesn't sound like a hair splitting time to me.

France's real interests in Iraq

A good article discussing the fact that France was playing cynical politics over the invasion of Iraq.

The French definition of multi-lateralism

[source, source]

The French Bioethics Bill is particularly contrary to the Biotech Directive [...] French Health Minister Professor Matthei, a sponsor of the bill, suggests that the best way forward would be for the Biotech Directive to be interpreted in accordance with the Bioethics Bill.

The absurdity of this suggestion is clear: a European Directive which was duly passed after over a decade of negotiations, and which was unsuccessfully challenged in the highest European Court, should now be effectively scrapped and replaced with the French Senate's view