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The Boy
Member
Username: The_boy
Post Number: 195
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 12:45 pm: | |
The verdict: A fiasco, disgrace and utter failure
Tony Blair given softest of rides by Iraq Inquiry
The Guardian
30 January 2010
Seumas Milne
This morning's failures have turned to fiasco. Over one issue after another, the members of the Chilcot inquiry proved entirely unwilling or unable to challenge – or apparently even recognise – Tony Blair's most damaging admissions, obfuscations and falsehoods on the Iraq war.
How come none of them pressed the former prime minister over the fact that most Iraqis opposed the occupation and supported the inevitable and predicted armed resistance? Instead, they allowed him to claim the opposite and insist it was all a problem of "outside elements, al-Qaida and Iran". Nor did they seem to remember that it was the invasion that brought both into Iraq.
When Blair claimed it was terrorists who were responsible for Iraq's bloodbath, no one thought to mention that for the first couple of years at least the majority of civilians were killed by the occupation forces.
What about the impact of the aggression against Iraq in fuelling terror attacks in Britain and elsewhere? Not a word. And when Blair claimed "we didn't end up with a humanitarian disaster" in Iraq and cited a string of misleading statistics on Iraq's "remarkable" progress, the inquiry members seemed happy to accept that too, whatever the UN might say.
There were startling admissions: "unfortunately, what we thought would be the problem wasn't the problem" after the occupation began, Blair said. Al-Qaida and Iran had "nearly caused the mission to fail" – but, in the end, he declared, "it didn't". The US troops had gone in "too hard, too heavy" in Falluja. If anything, his Atlantic love affair has deepened since he left power.
Some may hope that the rebuttal will come in the inquiry report. But the spectacle of official indulgence of a man many here and abroad regard as responsible for a devastating war crime has been sickening. John Chilcot said at one point that the lessons of occupation had been "expensive, but very necessary". Millions of Iraqis who have actually paid that price take a very different view.
http://bit.ly/bnro99 |
devonboy
Member
Username: Morgan144
Post Number: 73
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 12:34 pm: | |
Sadly, Revolter, I think appearance has become more important than content these days. Blair was more concerned with protecting his "legacy" than answering the questions posed to him and I remain unconvinced that he has ever actually lost a single nights sleep over his decision. I do not think that the questioning was exactly incisive either.
As for Hitler - what is public speaking if not "performance?" He certainly managed to impress several million Germans. |
The Boy
Member
Username: The_boy
Post Number: 194
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 11:44 am: | |
To clarify: Hitler was an impressive public speaker. You're absolutely right, Revolter - performance is not the issue. |
Revolter
Member
Username: Revolt
Post Number: 214
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 08:54 am: | |
Was he? I wasn't impressed. |
The Boy
Member
Username: The_boy
Post Number: 192
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Monday, February 01, 2010 - 10:46 pm: | |
Hitler was an impressive perfomer. |
Revolter
Member
Username: Revolt
Post Number: 213
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 01, 2010 - 09:02 am: | |
Essence is more important than appearance. He's a bourgeois barrister whose partner is a judge, and he was interviewed by a panel of non-barristers. I don't think performance is the issue and I don't admire him for it. His "performance" justified the slaughter of many and the waste of billions. |
pipling
Member
Username: Reality
Post Number: 271
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 07:53 am: | |
I thought Blair gave a good account of himself. Everyone has their own agenda and views on Iraq and the invasion decision are as numerous as there are stars in the sky.....but the bottom line is on the day he fronted up well. You either accept what he says or you don't but the fact is he's an impressive performer! |
Crisis What Crisis?
Member
Username: Crisis_what_crisis
Post Number: 234
Registered: 03-2006
| | Posted on Friday, January 29, 2010 - 03:39 pm: | |
Justa, I confess to finding your posts extremely irritating at times.
This however is priceless. Thank you. |
justa TPO
Member
Username: Justa_tpo
Post Number: 442
Registered: 06-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 11:14 pm: | |
If only.
http://www.arrestblair.org/
I would be content if he got off with a Community Order as long as there was a single requirement of placing a hefty boot in his man vegetables.
For 6 months. |
The Boy
Member
Username: The_boy
Post Number: 191
Registered: 02-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - 08:27 pm: | |
Negotiations between the police and Stop the War Coalition broke down today when it became clear that the government is trying to hide the legitimate peaceful protest from Tony Blair when he gives evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry on Friday.
After days in which Stop the War were told by the police that they would try to facilitate our protest, Stop the War has been told it will not be allowed to protest on the grass outside the QEII Conference Centre.
This is a denial of democratic rights and Stop the War will now call for the widest possible mobilisation, not just to express the majority view in this country that Tony Blair should be held to account for war crimes, but in defence of the right to protest.
Why should the public be denied the right to peaceful protest, particularly when the latest evidence given to the Chilcot Committee shows beyond doubt that Tony Blair knew he was taking Britain into an illegal war, and that he doctored legal advice to deceive his Cabinet, Parliament and the British public.
Stop the War is calling on all its supporters, local groups and affiliated organisations to mobilise the widest possible support for the Blair protest on Friday.
It urges everyone who can to join the demonstration at the QEII Conference Centre from 8am.
Full details for the planned events are here: http://bit.ly/8mKM0T
DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST
Friday 29 January from 8.00am onwards
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
Broad Sanctuary
London
SW1P 3EE
Nearest tube: Westminster |
