At the outset, I say that it is right that the House debate this issue and pass judgment. That is the democracy that is our right, but that others struggle for in vain. Again, I say that I do not disrespect the views in opposition to mine. This is a tough choice indeed, but it is also a stark one: to stand British troops down now and turn back, or to hold firm to the course that we have set. I believe passionately that we must hold firm to that course. The question most often posed is not "Why does it matter?" but "Why does it matter so much?" Here we are, the Government, with their most serious test, their majority at risk, the first Cabinet resignation over an issue of policy, the main parties internally divided, people who agree on everything else --

In this quote from Tony Blair, we can see many aspects of manipulation:

• ideological polarization (Us/Democracies vs. Them/Dictatorships, nationalism, supporting the troops)
• positive self-presentation by moral superiority (allowing debate, respect for other opinions, struggling for democracy, holding firm, etc ...)
• emphasizing his power, despite the opposition
• discrediting the opponents, the Liberal Democrats, as being opportunistic
• emotionalizing the argument (passionate beliefs)

-- Taken from "Discourse and Manipulation" published in the 2006 issue of Discourse & Society by Teun A. Van Dijk