Debate in U.K. on Iraq War Change Many’s Minds
On December 11, 2007, in London’s grand Westminster Hall, Vets for Freedom Executive Director Pete Hegseth, and his esteemed debating partner William Shawcross, achieved an unexpected, and dramatic, upset. The sold-out audience of over 2,200 was swayed—overwhelmingly—by their defense of the motion, “The surge is working, let’s win before we leave.”
Of the 455 “undecided” voters who arrived in the hall, over half (234) later voted to support Hegseth and Shawcross. By contract, the “leave Iraq now” position gained only 67 votes and the “negotiated settlement” position gained just 64 votes. Overwhelmingly, previously undecided voters left the hall convinced that we must win in Iraq.
“There is nothing we can do about the pre-conceived notions people held when they entered the hall,” said Hegseth “but I’m ecstatic that we were able to convince so many people about the merits of the ‘surge’ and the need to win in Iraq. I was told it would be a hostile audience; but these results proves that anyone, anywhere can be convinced, provided they hear the facts on the ground.”
Overall, the “negotiated settlement” position received the most final votes, however it had overwhelming support before the debate began. But in a dramatic turn, the Hegseth/Shawcross position overtook the “leave Iraq now” position in the final tally, overcoming a 129-vote deficit from the initial vote. See complete results below.
The debate will be show in its entirety on BBC World during the weekend of January 5/6, and Vets for Freedom will send out a notice when it appears. In addition, the video will be on the Vets for Freedom site next week.
| Vote Tally: | ||
| Before the Debate: | After the Debate: | |
| The Surge is Working: | 434 (4th Place) | 668 (+234 votes) (2nd) |
| Negotiated Settlement: | 742 (1st) | 806 (+64)(1st) |
| Leave Iraq Now: | 563 (2nd) | 630 (+67)(3rd) |
| Undecided: | 455 (3rd) | 118 (-334) (4th) |