Results 1-20 of 24 for iraq speaker:Jo Swinson

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Global Security (Iran) (9 Jul 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...to be seen as a world player. The threat has diminished with the Obama regime, but when Bush was in power there was a real prospect of an American invasion, especially considering what happened in Iraq. We need to recognise and understand that reality if we are to reduce the danger. The Select Committee's subsequent report on non-proliferation is welcome. Worryingly, it states that there...

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Global Security (Iran) (9 Jul 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...that the UK's influence in this matter is not at its peak, given the current diplomatic situation, and that it might best be used in looking at what influence other countries can bring to bear. On Iraq and Afghanistan, the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Sir John Stanley) talked about the Government's analysis of the training and support being given to insurgents and the...

[Mr. Martin Caton in the Chair] — Middle East (24 Jun 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...of his foreign policy, which is a welcome change from the Bush years, and is a cause for optimism. As has been outlined, such engagement with Syria is vital to ensuring a peaceful withdrawal from Iraq, maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon, and for the Arab-Israeli peace process, on which we all so desperately want more progress. Historically, Syria has been more isolated because of...

[Mr. Martin Caton in the Chair] — Middle East (24 Jun 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...the Syrian Government should be praised for what they have done. No doubt the humanitarian agencies will be involved, and they should be involved. I will not go into all the arguments about the Iraq war, but particularly where we have contributed to problems and to what I view as a terrible mistake, we have a responsibility to help to clear up the mess that we have made and to provide such...

[Mr. Joe Benton in the Chair] — Ashraf (Geneva Convention) (25 Mar 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...Gentleman gave a long list of the threats and dangers of persecution that the individuals from the camp will face if they are sent back to Iran. It is almost two months since 23 January, when the Iraqi Government said that Camp Ashraf should be closed within two months. It is clearly an urgent and pressing matter, which is why today's debate is timely. There has been some debate in the...

[Mr. David Amess in the Chair] — Latin America (3 Mar 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...Israel and Palestine and the middle east, continuing threats concerning Iran and its potential nuclear capability, geopolitical changes involving Russia and China, and our military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Often Latin America is not at the top of the agenda, which is why it is important that Parliament should find the time to discuss the issues. I was, like other hon. Members,...

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Iraq: Politics and Government (27 Feb 2009)

Jo Swinson: ...Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) the resignation from the Iraqi government of its Minister for Women and (b) budgetary reductions of the Iraqi Ministry for Women on Iraq's ability to fulfil its responsibilities under UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Sri Lanka: Afghanistan and Pakistan (5 Feb 2009) has video

Jo Swinson: ..., and to have the semblance of a normal life. That has not been happening to the extent that it should, because of the overstretch. That should be borne in mind when the troops come home from Iraq later this year. They cannot immediately be sent to Afghanistan. We need to take into account their health and psychiatric care needs. That is why a large increase in troop numbers from this...

Bills Presented: Iraq: Future Strategic Relationship (14 Jan 2009) has video

Jo Swinson: In the context of the uncertain security situation as our troops come home, may I ask Members to remember the families and friends of the five British hostages who have been held in Iraq since May 2007, who do not know when their loved ones are coming home? At this time, the Government must make it a top priority to use every available opportunity and make every possible effort to secure...

Christians in Iraq (16 Dec 2008)

Jo Swinson: I, too, congratulate the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) on securing the debate, which is sadly necessary. He eloquently outlined the tragic events affecting the Christian population in Iraq that have unfolded in the past few years. His personal experience of seeing the situation on the ground has greatly enhanced this morning's debate. The hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) rightly...

Christians in Iraq (16 Dec 2008)

Jo Swinson: The hon. Gentleman is right. I hope that the Minister will let us know whether the response of the Iraqi Government was adequate. We hear that they sent 1,000 troops to Mosul, but in the wake of such endemic violence that seems to be a rather small number. Does the Minister believe that that will be sufficient to restore order and security? The situation is clearly grave, and it could be...

Christians in Iraq (16 Dec 2008)

Jo Swinson: ...;it is vital that the rule of law and security should be guaranteed. Nothing else can be built without those basics. We found it to be true in Afghanistan, and we are finding it to be true also in Iraq. Some of the tensions were certainly to be found under the surface, and some even came out into the open under the previous regime. When there is a breakdown in the rule of law, things get...

Points of Order: Promoting Democracy and Human Rights (13 Oct 2008)

Jo Swinson: ...implications for our ability to promote democracy and human rights worldwide. There are well-documented claims that our military are overstretched by fighting on both fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Recently, the Iraqi Prime Minister has said that it is time for the UK troops to go, and I hope that the Government will do what Liberal Democrat Members have argued for for some time, and...

Points of Order: Promoting Democracy and Human Rights (13 Oct 2008)

Jo Swinson: .... The UK must play a role on the international stage to promote human rights and encourage democracy. The challenges are huge, and sadly, the UK's position has been undermined by our actions in Iraq. None the less, we must redouble our efforts, and I hope that the mooted supposed Government U-turn on 42 days that may come shortly is a sign that they, too, are keen to safeguard human rights...

Health and Social Care Bill (Programme) (No. 2): Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism (15 Jul 2008) has video

Jo Swinson: ...day that this order to proscribe the military wing of Hezbollah was published, the Prime Minister told the House that it was solely on the grounds of new evidence of its involvement in terrorism in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories. Of course, we all utterly condemn the violent and terrorist activities that are conducted by Hezbollah. I say to the Minister at the outset that...

[Mr. Peter Atkinson in the Chair] — Israel (20 May 2008)

Jo Swinson: ...that we pursue. The Quartet has some flaws. It is widely seen as US driven, but the US is not necessarily seen as an honest broker in the process, and given our former Prime Minister's history in Iraq and the region, he was not necessarily the most obvious choice as a representative to bring peace, although we wish him well in that difficult job. The Quartet has much dialogue with Arab...

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations (12 May 2008)

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many servicemen and women normally resident in East Dunbartonshire were serving in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan at the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such service personnel have served in each country in the last five years.

Written Answers — Defence: Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations (2 Apr 2008)

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK armed forces personnel have served (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more tours of duty in Iraq since March 2003.

Opposition Day — [8th Allotted Day]: Iraq Inquiry (25 Mar 2008) has video

Jo Swinson: ...respect the fact that she has been consistent in her arguments. However, does she accept that the humanitarian reasons were not those given to the House or the country to justify going to war with Iraq? That is why we urgently need an inquiry into the Iraq war now.

Western Balkans (26 Feb 2008)

Jo Swinson: ...in this case is different because there were exhaustive attempts to bring the parties together but it became clear that there was an immovable obstacle that could not be got round, whereas in the Iraq situation there was quite a lot of international consensus on giving Hans Blix much more time to do the job on weapons of mass destruction, which might have led the international community to...