Queen of England, other world figures to travel to Baghdad on ''extended vacation''

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday February 09, 2003 01:20 by Irish Times

Cold fury in Washington as group of respected world leaders plan travel to Baghdad to prevent war

The Queen of England plans to join Pope John Paul II, former US President Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela in halting a war in Iraq by residing in the Iraqi capital for a period of several months.

Jimmy Carter, other world figures to travel to Baghdad on ''extended vacation''

Cold fury in Washington as group of respected world leaders plan travel to Baghdad to prevent war.

The Queen of England plans to join Pope John Paul II, former US President Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela in halting a war in Iraq by residing in the Iraqi capital for a period of several months.

Immediate reaction at the White House was shock and dismay. A very senior adviser speaking on condition of anonymity bemoaned the action, saying "There's no way in hell we're going to bomb the Pope or the Queen. And Tony Blair is going to be out of the picture for sure, now". He added, "We're looking for ways to respond behind the scenes to the participants of this action." Then I woke up from my dream and remembered that in the modern world there is no longer such a thing as honour or personal courage.