One of the first casualties of war is the truth, and that has certainly been the case in Britain. A number of government ministers have appeared on TV peddling falsehoods. And although they are all known as professional liars - who would buy a used car from the likes of Peter Mandleson, Alan Milburn, John Prescott, or John Reed? - come to think of it they look like a group of South London used car salesmen - they are listened to respectfully. We are going to war to preserve the credibility of the UN? Nice one. They have no credibility if they don't do what we want? No, if they won't enforce their own resolutions. We're enforcing 1441.
Ah yes. The original 1441 had language that implied the use of military force, and this had to be changed to get it adopted. And the Russians was made clear at the time that war was not being implied by 'serious consequences'. That's why Blair wanted a new resolution last week, which he failed to get. That's why the rest of the Security Council are saying this war is illegal and against the UN charter. But you'll be hard put to learn this watching the BBC. Nor will you learn that a large number of countries have condemned our action. Instead the news concentrates on the military hardware, and the fighting spirit of our boys. Should safeguard the licence fee for a while.
Is it disappointing to find that a radical-looking SGs is a right wing Republican, totally behind the war effort? People no longer look so attractive when you find they have reactionary politics do they? Or does that make me an ideologue? Perhaps I'll end up as fanatical as the Reverend Blair. Now there's a man who has succeeded in extinguishing all trace of doubt. In a previous age he would have worked for the Inquisition. Even Oliver Cromwell saw the danger of this degree of certainty: 'Think it possible, in the bowels of Christ, that ye may be wrong.'
Blair's new theme tune? I'm a Believer.
'Then I saw his face/
Now I'm a Believer/
Not a trace/
Of doubt in my mind.'
[That's a blast from the past.]
Ah yes. The original 1441 had language that implied the use of military force, and this had to be changed to get it adopted. And the Russians was made clear at the time that war was not being implied by 'serious consequences'. That's why Blair wanted a new resolution last week, which he failed to get. That's why the rest of the Security Council are saying this war is illegal and against the UN charter. But you'll be hard put to learn this watching the BBC. Nor will you learn that a large number of countries have condemned our action. Instead the news concentrates on the military hardware, and the fighting spirit of our boys. Should safeguard the licence fee for a while.
Is it disappointing to find that a radical-looking SGs is a right wing Republican, totally behind the war effort? People no longer look so attractive when you find they have reactionary politics do they? Or does that make me an ideologue? Perhaps I'll end up as fanatical as the Reverend Blair. Now there's a man who has succeeded in extinguishing all trace of doubt. In a previous age he would have worked for the Inquisition. Even Oliver Cromwell saw the danger of this degree of certainty: 'Think it possible, in the bowels of Christ, that ye may be wrong.'
Blair's new theme tune? I'm a Believer.
'Then I saw his face/
Now I'm a Believer/
Not a trace/
Of doubt in my mind.'
[That's a blast from the past.]