tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post1329254522147197452..comments2023-10-28T19:42:01.039+01:00Comments on Going fast, getting nowhere: Iraq was never a threat ...Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-23075899246104482902011-01-22T15:23:43.014+00:002011-01-22T15:23:43.014+00:00I agree to an extent. The Second World War came a...I agree to an extent. The Second World War came about as a result of our desire to step in when an ally (Poland) was invaded, although you could argue that this decision was ultimately one of self-interest. But I am troubled by the idea that we have the duty to sort out the problems of the rest of the world. I'd prefer us to sort out our own problems first.<br /><br />I supported the war, reluctantly, at the time, because I believed that a British Prime Minister would not lie to Parliament. Most people interpreted the '45 minutes' claim as being a direct threat to the UK, and Blair made no attempt to correct that impression. I think my visceral loathing of Blair comes from the fact that I feel I was tricked; that my very reluctant support for military action was a result of his lies and deceit. Simply put: he had decided to follow Bush into the invasion in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and nothing anyone said would change that. Weapons inspectors were ignored, the Cabinet were sidelined, Parliament and the people were fed with spun stories that Blair knew were not supported by the intelligence, his own Attorney-General's advice was first ignored and then 'corrected'. I get the impression that he was prepared to go to any lengths to follow Bush to war, including circumventing all the usual democratic checks and balances to get his way. And all because he thought what he had decided was 'the right thing to do'. <br /><br />And what is a 'useful lie'? Even if the war was the right thing to do, how can that justify a lie to Parliament and the people? If Parliament and the people don't want to go to war, then we don't go to war, however 'noble' the reason. It's called democracy.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-87338476336099281042011-01-22T14:25:21.413+00:002011-01-22T14:25:21.413+00:00I've still got a feeling that, where possible,...I've still got a feeling that, where possible, one should interfere when other countries are killing and oppressing more of their own people than we do ours. I may be wrong. <br /><br />I've never supported Labour. I supported the war. I assumed, (correctly), that the justification was a useful lie to persuade parliament and the people. Can I change my mind now? Do I want to? I dunno. Maybe I should keep quiet.Zaphodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-34628591682499172692011-01-21T20:39:27.560+00:002011-01-21T20:39:27.560+00:00@Joe: I was thinking more of Blair's justifica...@Joe: I was thinking more of Blair's justifications rather than simple reality. As you know, the two are not the same.<br /><br />@Nikos: agreed, although seeing him wriggling is good, being as it is the nearest we will see to an appearance at The Hague. Afghanistan is a whole other issue.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15743685798068014455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-28195366757531111762011-01-21T17:39:48.987+00:002011-01-21T17:39:48.987+00:00Pleasing as it is to watch HiImtony wriggling, I a...Pleasing as it is to watch HiImtony wriggling, I am far more concerned about the needless and ongoing loss of life in Afganistan.Nikoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03119901226987582553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7099099432720184584.post-11125336881296525282011-01-21T17:28:39.772+00:002011-01-21T17:28:39.772+00:00"Iraq was never a threat ...
... if you read ..."Iraq was never a threat ...<br />... if you read between the lines"<br /><br />You don't even need to read between the lines.<br /><br />They never did find any supposed WMDs, did they?Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.com