Papers question war in Iraq

Papers question war in Iraq

The Independent fills its entire front page with questions it says must be answered now the war in Iraq has ended.

Among them: "Where are the weapons of mass destruction?"

And: "How long will American troops stay?"

The newspaper devotes a further three pages to its own answers, focusing particularly on its 'big question': "Has the war left the world a safer place?"

It says the short answer is no one can say.

The Independent says if Washington achieves a Middle Eastern peace settlement, it will be a miracle.

Summer of peace?

But if not, the invasion will have solved nothing.

The Guardian leaves no doubt as to where it stands.

Its editorial says after a season of war the optimists may think this could be the summer for peacemaking.

But the paper tells us not to hold our breath and urges Tony Blair to put aside rose-coloured spectacles when gazing at the Middle East.

Injured plea

There is another appeal to the prime minister in The Times - from Queen Rania of Jordan.

In a letter, she asks Mr Blair and US president George Bush to make Iraq safe enough for aid organisations to enter immediately so the badly injured people can be evacuated for treatment.

Next to the article is one of the many pictures in Wednesday's papers of the 12-year-old boy who lost both his arms in a US air strike, Ali Ismail Abbas.

The paper says Ali managed his first smile since the attack when he was flown to Kuwait city for treatment.

Short answer

Clare Short's remarks on the humanitarian situation in Iraq attract much comment.

The Guardian says: "Short breaks ranks again."

The international development secretary told foreign journalists in Whitehall the US and Britain "should have done better" in anticipating the collapse of order in Iraq, it says.

The Daily Telegraph is more interested in Ms Short's reply when asked if the civilian death toll was a price worth paying for the downfall of Saddam Hussein.

"I don't think the death of any human being is a price worth paying," she apparently said, which the paper believes has added to speculation Ms Short will soon quit the government - or be sacked.

Taxing problem

Away from the war, the Daily Mail claims the government's new tax credit system has descended into a shambles.

Fewer than half the families entitled to the payments are guaranteed to receive them on time this month, it says.

A cartoon shows a mother and her baby about to enter a door displaying a sign saying: "Department of utter confusion. Formerly Inland Revenue".