Iraq inquiries

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

So both Bush and Blair have announced inquiries into the lead up to the war in iraq. Both caving into pressure although it has to be said, Bush doing it a bit more gracefully than Blair. The US Inquiry will report in 2005, comming up on a UK general election. The UK one just before the Democratic national convention. A bit of electioneeing for each other's natural partners?

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

i just can't see how either inquiry will conclude anything other than that Bush and Blair were 'acting in good faith based on unintentionally exaggerated intelligence' for which certain spies will be punished (but will they be 'named and shamed' as it were?). Bush will probably no longer be in power (this inquiry then being seen as a gracious acceptance of defeat in advance and even an 'apology' of sorts) anyway so will get away with it without too much egg on face - Blair on the other hand will probably have to step down due to a range of factors but this as primary. Or not?

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 11:42 (twenty-two years ago)

given all of the spies coming forward and saying that they have been overuled by politicians, I don't think it will be as clear cut, especially for Blair, he can't afford another exonerating whitewash, it won't stick.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 12:30 (twenty-two years ago)

all of the spies?

Hasn't a plank of the attack against Gilligan's report been that there are actually only one or two who have voiced any concerns? One of them is making himself heard again at the moment, I know.

Robin Butler's wife was my housemistress at school. She was a bit of an old cow.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 12:39 (twenty-two years ago)

(ergo - I have no faith in this new inquiry)

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 12:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Seymour Hersh has reported that the Pentagon circumvented normal intelligence vetting at Cheney and Rumsfeld's behest, "cherry picking" intelligence without oversight, and "stovepiping" it to a newly-created Office of Special Plans. He has sources for this stuff, both on and off the record. Perhaps even more colorful euphemisms will emerge.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Terrifically interesting article by former CIA guy Kenneth Pollack in today's G2, republished from the Atlantic Monthly, on how US intelligence on Iraq went awry and how the administration bent what there was to their own agenda. Light on rhetoric and just has that ring of truth to it.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, the Pollack article has really intrigued me and I'm interested to see how and what of it can be confirmed as the months pass.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 4 February 2004 14:27 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/24/iraq-freedom-of-information

oh well

― meme economist (special guest stars mark bronson), Tuesday, 24 February 2009 16:43 (seventeen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.