"But they were going to war anyway and they were going to bully and pressure countries to vote for it"

The quote by Clare Short, a previous British political leader, is a pointed review of the political and diplomatic dynamics leading up to the Iraq War in 2003. To analyze this text, it's important to consider the context in which it was stated. Clare Short, at that time a member of the UK Parliament and part of Prime Minister Tony Blair's Cabinet, was a vocal critic of the decision to go to war. Her statement reflects her disillusionment and disagreement with the processes and motivations driving the union, mostly led by the United States and the United Kingdom, in their quest to get into Iraq.

The phrase "But they were fighting anyhow" recommends a sense of inevitability in the decision-making procedure, implying that the management was set on continuing with military action regardless of opposing opinions or verifiable reasons. This reflects an understanding of established intent, potentially driven by tactical, political, or ideological motives, instead of a responsive or situational judgement based on emerging evidence or diplomacy.

The latter part of the quote, "and they were going to bully and pressure countries to elect it", highlights the aggressive diplomatic techniques utilized to amass international support or a minimum of soft opposition. It recommends that there was significant arm-twisting included, potentially through political, financial, or diplomatic pressure, to align other countries with their cause or at least to prevent them from openly opposing it. This behavior would show a prioritization of geopolitical goals over genuine multilateral agreement, a criticism typically levied versus the nations leading the charge into Iraq.

Short's use of terms such as "bully" and "pressure" paints a picture of browbeating instead of cooperation, suggesting manipulation of global online forums like the United Nations to develop a façade of legitimacy for the war. Her criticism points to ethical issues around sovereign autonomy and the genuine application of democratic concepts in international relations. Through this quote, Short underscores her disapproval of what she viewed as a dishonest approach to foreign policy, lacking openness and ethical stability.