tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post2291114056929546068..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Blair Pleaded for Private Iraq InquiryIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87527228135157308522009-06-23T03:29:19.043+01:002009-06-23T03:29:19.043+01:00I do not believe Tony Blair would PLEAD for a priv...I do not believe Tony Blair would PLEAD for a private inquiry. That would be totally out of character. It is media spin, no doubt. If an inquiry is held (although I believe it is a waste of great gobs of British money and it will cost MORE if it is made public)it SHOULD be private. Can you say, "National Security"? Can you say "expediency"? <br />From across the pond, I am grateful to TB for all the good he has done and is going to do (if the dogs would stop their senseless, selfish hunt) and let him get to it.littleoleamericannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47246518698018275582009-06-21T20:36:39.262+01:002009-06-21T20:36:39.262+01:00Well, he would want it all hidden, wouldn't he...Well, he would want it all hidden, wouldn't he?Cinnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63529160057873269982009-06-21T19:39:17.217+01:002009-06-21T19:39:17.217+01:00let it go gord said "Gordon never tires of th...let it go gord said <i>"Gordon never tires of the blame Blair not me tactic does he?"</i> <br /><br />Tony Blair, America, the bankers, outside influences, little green men inside his head... there's nothing that Gordon won't do in order to deflect blame from himself.<br /><br />It's also quite staggering the number of lies Gordon has been telling about this. (and other subjects lately) If you asked him his name, he'd say it was anything but Gordon.The Grim Reaperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543130733645367498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63557417084795483992009-06-21T17:58:59.808+01:002009-06-21T17:58:59.808+01:00@ Chris Paul
"What is surely critical is tha...@ Chris Paul<br /><br /><i>"What is surely critical is that the lessons are learned? Private sessions may allow more lessons to be learned than cagey public ones."</i><br /><br />What the hell does that really mean? What 'lessons'? Who is to 'learn'?<br /><br />This is the usual lefty bollox. There were more than enough people who disputed the 'causes' of war - long before the outset. Many perfidious politicians chose to ignore their protests and arguments and blindly follow a proven liar. Does anyone seriously think that these self-same politicos have somehow changed and are prepared to 'learn' 'lessons'?<br /><br />The only 'lesson' these people have learned is how to cover their arses slightly more effectively. But if they had the slightest integrity we would not now be arguing over this so-called 'inquiry'. What is clear is that such 'inquiries' are no more than charades, choreographed cover-ups, smoke and mirrors.<br /><br />Whenever Brown announces an Inquiry it merely means that he has found yet another willing patsy who's prepared to smooth things over. Who is it this time? And what's the deal, the payoff?<br /><br />Integrity, honesty, openness, frankness, truth?<br /><br />I don't think so.Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86495127806287410032009-06-21T16:38:04.344+01:002009-06-21T16:38:04.344+01:00The real story is:
1. Brown's No 10 cannot s...The real story is: <br /><br />1. Brown's No 10 cannot stop negative anonymous briefings despite repeated promises to change. Just think about why and how this story came into the public domain.... <i>cui bono?</i><br /><br />2. Brown is a vacillating coward, and wants to blame Blair for his own incompetence even though the responsibility for the decision is squarely Brown's. <br /><br />3. Blair so distrusted No 10 that he went via an intermediary and the Cabinet Secretary - even that route was compromised. What does that say about the machinery at the centre of government? <br /><br />4. The lobby journalists involved have been co-opted into an anonymous smear operation designed to deflect attention from Brown's weakness. Why did they do that uncritically? Why buy that newspaper?<br /><br />5. It may not be true. The journalists concerned have not shown they can verify the story or that it isn't pure invention. No corroborating quote from Blair or from Gus O'Donnell or anyone else. <br /><br />I don't want a secret inquiry, but if it is about learning lessons, I can see why Blair would find it easier to be more candid in private. He is entitled to make his case - but Brown is obliged to look at the case for openness in the round.Michael Daviesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16333393048680962872009-06-21T16:26:30.451+01:002009-06-21T16:26:30.451+01:00Public enquiries are a criminal waste of public ta...Public enquiries are a criminal waste of public tax payer's money and there is not one in recent history which has had any practical value or purpose whatsoever.Bloody Sunday,Diana enquiry,Stephen Lawrence,Scarman ad nauseam and this is just more of the same.Blair was right re Iraq and it is just an opportunity for the anti war brigade to posture, strike moral poses and indulge in 20 20 hindsight. Take the money that will be wasted on this farce and give it to our troops who are putting their lives on the line for our freedom.niconoclasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11346612911422614130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23881230261881697902009-06-21T16:21:57.293+01:002009-06-21T16:21:57.293+01:00'Gordon Brown to reconnect with voters by appe...'Gordon Brown to reconnect with voters by appearing on Songs of Praise.'<br /><br /><br />...as Plague or PestilenceCynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04852867933348403214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-598598957490114622009-06-21T16:12:43.102+01:002009-06-21T16:12:43.102+01:00If he did get found guilty by a War Crimes Tribuna...If he did get found guilty by a War Crimes Tribunal, then perhaps we'll get to see <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3643/3323356198_dc55da4c27.jpg?v=0" rel="nofollow"> this </a> portrait of Tony Blair hanging in Downing Street.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54664714494216478112009-06-21T15:21:17.605+01:002009-06-21T15:21:17.605+01:00I just want as much of this enquiry to be open and...I just want as much of this enquiry to be open and in the publiuc. I hope and pray that in this process, Bliar and his cronies have their reputations shredded and destroyed for all time. It appears that phoney tony is worried too..<br /><br /> Let us not forget that he was prepared to sacrifice good men and women on the bonfire of his vanities. <br /><br /> Let justice commence I say...Mirtha Tidvillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940977481295375071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26736527688326751202009-06-21T13:46:34.117+01:002009-06-21T13:46:34.117+01:00God I hope he gets done for war crimes. Does the H...God I hope he gets done for war crimes. Does the Hague still practice capital punishment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72442055863863669962009-06-21T13:07:51.715+01:002009-06-21T13:07:51.715+01:00OMG Tally - it's Bercow!OMG Tally - it's Bercow!Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90738944356413880192009-06-21T12:48:40.033+01:002009-06-21T12:48:40.033+01:00i think tony blair is a pretty cool guy. eh commit...i think tony blair is a pretty cool guy. eh commits war crimes and doesnt afraid of anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76546552614444882212009-06-21T12:47:38.442+01:002009-06-21T12:47:38.442+01:00Hannan has the handle on this – Mandy is keeping G...Hannan has the handle on this – Mandy is keeping Gordon in power til after the Irish second attempt to get the Lisbon jobby thru’; i.e. keep Cameron out until too late to undo the treaty. If it means therefore doing whatever is req’d (Private/public inquiry) no matter what the damage to GB or Gt Britain or even TB let alone Labour – the EU project must continue. See page 25 of the S/Tel today.Glyn Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756226316614600769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17550216207663369792009-06-21T12:21:05.277+01:002009-06-21T12:21:05.277+01:00who is this disgusting MP that is making obscene g...who is this disgusting MP that is making obscene gestures at David Cameron in Parliament? it just shows how far the quality of MP's has fallen.<br />He is standing at the back next to a lady in a bluish cardigan. at 45 seconds<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISD-3HnDvWg&feature=channel<br /><br />he should be sacked.tallynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57888338692603495082009-06-21T12:14:13.166+01:002009-06-21T12:14:13.166+01:00Amazing how the people who voted for the war are n...Amazing how the people who voted for the war are now pretending that the wool was pulled over their eyes.Ordinary Joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38773655366059087052009-06-21T11:45:30.116+01:002009-06-21T11:45:30.116+01:00I would prefer a private inquiry because I don'...I would prefer a private inquiry because I don't want to see Blair, Campbell and Scarlett waterboarded in order to be more candid. Ideally, their confessions would be signed with bloody thumbprints. That would begin to draw a line under the whole tracherous enterprise.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358349301959327747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72258666373242255062009-06-21T11:16:37.301+01:002009-06-21T11:16:37.301+01:00And what would happen if he didn't hold a priv...And what would happen if he didn't hold a private enquiry would rasputin (mandelson) be taken of his lead.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30294431204496974832009-06-21T11:07:07.153+01:002009-06-21T11:07:07.153+01:00Given the role that the internet is now playing in...Given the role that the internet is now playing in Iran I find it somewhat surprising that a leading political blog susch as this has nothing to say on the matter. Is there anyway we can express our support for those who are fighting for democracy?tory boys never grow uphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11172736984147732661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-59766496524284229142009-06-21T10:23:10.196+01:002009-06-21T10:23:10.196+01:00Whatever Blair may have opined, and indeed others ...Whatever Blair may have opined, and indeed others may have opined when sounding were taken there are strengths and weaknesses to either a Public or Private choice on this.<br /><br />We ALL now KNOW what went on. Some of us, in my view ALMOST EVERYBODY, knew at the time what a pile of crap those dossiers were. There were proper dossiers produced by Labour people, and also in similar terms actually by the maligned Hizb_ut-Tahrir whose dossier was pretty sensible on this one.<br /><br />Blair, with complicity from his people and Tories too, was clearly twisting and bigging up a small risk of serious WMDs on the actuarial grounds that if they had them and if terrorists got them the result would be horrible. Even if the risk was in fractions of a percent, or as he probably thought, to give him the benefit of the doubt, a moderate single or small double figure, he felt he had to act.<br /><br />He also wanted regime change having realised that continuing to prop up Saddam was a poor option.<br /><br />We KNOW all this. It's OBVIOUS.<br /><br />What is surely critical is that the lessons are learned? Private sessions may allow more lessons to be learned than cagey public ones.<br /><br />Tories asked for Franks style and got it. Presumably if the Observer story is right Blair also accepted that version. It is PATHETIC to see Tories moving goalposts on this.<br /><br />We already KNOW Iain what we are likely to get to know under any wholly PUBLIC INQUIRY. Waste of space. Private one also bit of a waste of space in some ways. But better for historians and the long view I'd say.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73055276577019330752009-06-21T10:17:12.235+01:002009-06-21T10:17:12.235+01:00Straw on Marr this morning made the point that the...Straw on Marr this morning made the point that the 'Franks' style inquiry is exactly what the Conservatives had asked for.<br /><br />So, if part of the Government's justification for this decision is that we did what the Conservatives wanted, why can't we can have a General Election which is also what the Conservatives have asked for. And a referendum on Lisbon, etc, etc.<br /><br />Another prime exapmle of the Government floundering around, out of touch and incapable of making a competent decision.<br /><br />As for Brown appearing on Songs Of Praise to 'reconnect with the people'. FFS is all I can say. Gordon, if you want to reconnect, dissolve Parliament.SHBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57142952341991199272009-06-21T09:14:47.280+01:002009-06-21T09:14:47.280+01:00Why would you expect the truth from Tony Blair or ...Why would you expect the truth from Tony Blair or Gordon Brown if they were under oath?Not a sheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14123293202225008273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13916088920528084822009-06-21T09:04:50.852+01:002009-06-21T09:04:50.852+01:00Re Brown & Songs of Praise - not on my TV he a...Re Brown & Songs of Praise - not on my TV he ain't. I think we should organise a national turnoff - all our TVs on BBC1 that day, until SoP, then as soon as they announce they'll be talking to McBroon - click - as they can (somehow) calculate audience figures, they should be able to compare the figures between whatever program precedes SoP & SoP itself. Another smack in the eye for Gordon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58160275169679467472009-06-21T08:16:40.769+01:002009-06-21T08:16:40.769+01:00I don't think it is a case of what Broon wants...I don't think it is a case of what Broon wants from Tony in return. More likely what Tony knows about Broon that he can use to force his hand.<br />After all with the history between the two you would be expecting Broon to find a way to shaft Tony not protect him.<br />The whole thing stinks!Barnacle Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17257546424880537005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33356690665430419932009-06-21T07:57:26.307+01:002009-06-21T07:57:26.307+01:00Totally OT but did you see that article about diab...Totally OT but did you see that article about diabetes on the Beeb? Just make sure you're not eating your cornflakes whilst you're reading it......<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8106710.stmGordon Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17026686719065481051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-87544857666467466622009-06-21T06:59:16.079+01:002009-06-21T06:59:16.079+01:00The question you have to ask yourself is - Who gai...The question you have to ask yourself is - Who gains from this allegation ? The answer leads back to our present PM. I seem to re-collect that at the time of the Iraq Debate and the run up to the war that "Macavity" Brown was nowhere to be seen and that it would suit him to put the blame on Blair for wanting the enquiry to be held "in camera".<br /><br />This has all the marks of "Downing Street" dis-information all over it. Treat with caution is my advice !Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com