I've never been the greatest fan of the Liberal Democrats for the simple reason that I prefer the Labour party, but some of the criticism they are getting for their principled and let us remember -- democratic -- stance on the American invasion of Iraq is absurd. Obviously you expect it from
Peter Cuthbertson who after all thinks anyone anti-war is a 'moron' and thinks that the Lib Dems 'hate Britain' (a view so ridiculous it's hard to understand what he means at first). But you expect a little more thought from
Chris Bertram, who argues "I think it significant that on this issue the Labour and Conservative parties both contained a significant variety of opinions but that the Lib Dems voted as one. An indication, I think, that they are all about positioning and opportunism rather than substance".
It seems strange to me that a political party can be seen to be opportunist if its MPs hold a view which is held by the majority of the British public, the vast majority of the European public, most Labour MPs if it wasn't for Tony Blair, and I did believe Chris Bertram himself, at least until recently.
Of course the Lib Dems don't hold a single opinion on Iraq. Listening to their speeches on the subject would tell you that. What they hold is a view that at this moment, and in this way, military action is unnecesary.
