I am worried that the continued delay in the publication of Chilcot’s report is giving rise to expectations that it will be forthright and damning of Blair and his supporters. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even though Blair plunged us into an illegal war with dreadful long-term consequences, the report has always been designed to be a typical Whitehall fudge. Mistakes made – errors of judgement – all in good faith – lessons learned. You don’t have to wait for it, that is it.
The Chilcot team was handpicked by Gordon Brown – himself up to his neck in guilt for the illegal invasion – and three of the five had been aggressive proponents of the war. The remaining two, Chilcot and Baroness Prasad, are “sound” for the Establishment. Let me remind you of my analysis of the committee members in 2009. Sir Lawrence Freedman was an active propagandist for the invasion while Sir Martin Gilbert (died while contributing to the committee) was so enamoured of the invasion he compared Bush and Blair to Roosevelt and Churchill. Rod Lyne was actively involved in selling the WMD lies and arguably in danger of war crime accusation himself.
None of the committee members had ever expressed the slightest doubt about the Iraq War while 60% had actively promoted it. Of Chilcot himself the eminent international lawyer Phillippe Sands noted:
“Sir John’s spoonfed questions give every impression of being designed to elicit a response from the attorney general that would demonstrate the reasonableness of his actions and those of the government.”
The point of the delay is to give the impression Chilcot has been absolutely painstaking and therefore the bucket of whitewash he will throw cannot be hiding anything.
Do not be fooled.
Hi Peter
Thanks for the additional information.
We are both convinced that the government story on this is false and Lord Hutton’s inquiry was a whitewash, as Chilcot will be. The fact that Lord Hutton was appointed by Lord Falconer to head an inquiry into Dr. David Kelly’s death before the head pathologist, Nicholas Hunt, arrived at the scene of death is telling. Also coronial law has been changed if I understand it correctly to permit this to happen again with less scope to question. Individual deaths should be presided over by a coroner.
So many questions.
It would be good if those in the medical profession who read this blog, or even retired pathologists could add their opinions as to the likely cause of a death when “there was no priapism, but a fluid was discharged which is stated not to have contained any seminal animalcules, and which would have been ‘sure proof’ of sudden death in the 19th century.”
I suspect there could be other reasons for the deposit but I also believe that further forensic and medical tests should have taken place rather than the junior pathologists being pressured by Hunt to accept that co-proxamol being found in the stomach (not a huge amount) and blister packs of co-proxamol in the pocket of his coat.
All involved failed Dr. Kelly. Tony Blair for his pursuit of an illegal war on a false premise and for arranging a bogus Inquiry before Kelly’s body was cold. Thames Valley Police for not pursuing certain alternative areas of inquiry and not allowing independent medical professionals to see the photographs (which some believe would show that the body had been moved from its original position). The coroner should have insisted that it was his job to determine cause of death. The pathologsts for reasons outlined above.
What a shambles. Another one coming soon (soon?) with Chilcot.
Correction. I can hear an English teacher whispering in my ear “Shorter sentences John.”
“I suspect there could be other reasons for the deposit but I also believe that further forensic and medical tests should have taken place rather than the junior pathologists being pressured by Hunt to accept that co-proxamol being found in the stomach (not a huge amount) and blister packs of co-proxamol in the pocket of his coat were the cause of death.”
More a case of a chilled( by cooled champagne) cock then. years of money and time wasted on a process that was designed to reveal very little.
Re Bush dancing (badly) in New Orleans. He should count himself lucky to not having been lynched, oops, sorry, thats the KKK who’s doing the lynching, not the vast majority of African Americans who were left dead,wet, hungry without federal help for over a week due to his inactions.
the New Orleans police department was more busy with itself and their relatives than with the public at large.
Now that NASA is saying that sea level rises are much faster than anticipated, the leevies, so carefully strengthened after 10 years, are most likely to become obsolete soon.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/01/science_engineering_already_ou.html
“Corps officials did not respond Thursday to a request for comment on the report findings. In August 2011, however, a new corps national levee rating system gave a near-failing grade to the new system, despite its near-$10 billion price tag. That study also raised questions about the risk of flooding from major hurricanes overtopping the hurricane levees and major Mississippi River floods overtopping river levees. “
I wish to make a correction to my comment @ 11;25pm. Should read…
In the real world, an action is legal unless a competent judicial body rules that it is illegal. Sorry for the typo.
John a death such as Kelly’s, by law, still has to have the cause determined by a Coroner. Even when a public inquiry takes over the role of investigation.
The procedure is the head of the inquiry sends his findings to the Coroner and the coroner would ordinarily rubber stamp the finding. In Kelly’s case the Coroner was unable to rubber stamp Hutton’s findings (legally, professionally and morally) so when the findings made their way back to him he decided to abandon the inquest, it has never been formally closed as required in law and a final death certificate never registered, a Coroner has never ruled on the Cause of death, Hutton had no legal power to rule on the cause of death only a Coroner or Jury if one sits has that legal authority.
So to try and steer this back to this thread; no police investigation has taken place into possible criminal activity although many people have reported their concerns and the police have a duty to investigate. No Judge has ever ruled on guilt or innocence of those suspected of crimes and it is Chilcot who is being used perpetuate this flagrant breach of the law.
If Chilcot reports before the legal matters are determined then there is a very good chance that his report will taint any future legal proceedings and render those guilty of war crimes as having their right to a fair trial removed. And therefore let off the hook.
The families considering bringing a judicial review to force Chilcot to publish need to think very carefully how they spend their money. If they want justice they should seek an injunction to prevent publication until the legal matters are resolved.
“If I had…gone out and said anything that indicated there was a breach in the British position – that there was a chink of light that had opened up – it would have been a political catastrophe for us.”
Tony Blair
http://bcove.me/s7f2vli7
“If Chilcot reports before the legal matters are determined then there is a very good chance that his report will taint any future legal proceedings and render those guilty of war crimes as having their right to a fair trial removed. And therefore let off the hook.”
That being so looks like the publication of the report could go on indefinitely. I heard or read that the report was delayed because the apportionment of blame was being spread wider.
“The families considering bringing a judicial review to force Chilcot to publish need to think very carefully how they spend their money. If they want justice they should seek an injunction to prevent publication until the legal matters are resolved.”
I feel so sorry for these families. They want answers – which they will not get from Chilcot. When published the culprits will get a mild rebuke from the press and walk free.
There is a Facebook page “Impeach Tony Blair”. Its statement reads:
“Add any information and evidence about Tony Blair’s lies, denials and cover-ups since the run-up to the Iraq War. What are your thoughts on how he misled the House of Commons and the British electorate? What did you make of his behaviour towards WMD inspector, Dr David Kelly? How do you assess Blair’s latest claims that the present governments in the UK and US are responsible for the current butchery in Iraq and not him and George Bush?
Is the world a safer place because of Tony Blair’s actions, as he claims? If not, tell us why. And give us the reasons why you think he deserves to be impeached?
How do you feel about his support for right wing dictatorships around the world. And the money he makes from the advice he gives them? What do you make of his work implementing the rightwing Neocon agenda on the African continent?
Would you be prepared to make a citizen’s arrest if you crossed paths with him?”
This to my mind is essential, to bring proceedings in this country against a war-criminal is imperative. I am sure those of us who have given time and money in the pursuit of justice for Dr. Kelly would chip in for the prosecution of Blair, which could perhaps even lead to charges for his culpability in the murder of Dr. Kelly should an inquest find that he was murdered. Blair has already been found guilty of war-crimes by a Malaysian court. Cynics have tried to connect the dots between that decision and why Malaysian aircraft keep being brought down.
” Cynics have tried to connect the dots between that decision and why Malaysian aircraft keep being brought down.”
One was brought down because your friends shot it down.
Thanks Mark Golding for that reminder of the wriggling worm of a war-criminal admitting he disregarded the legality of his actions in favour of political ambition.
“One was brought down because your friends shot it down.”
I thought you knew by now that Poroshenko, the Yanks and fascist forces of Ukraine are no friends of mine.
We all know who your friends are Mr Goss – they are the same ones who denied the Holodomor, the Katyn massacre, 9/11, the illegal invasion of South Korea, the Holocaust, the invasion of Prague – spouted all that Rothschilds/Illuminati crap, ignored the Budapest Accord, blamed the Molotov Ribbentrop pact on the UK etc. etc.
Very true, and he would never have got the Morgan job along with the other phony job creation schemes for him to teach and be head of this and that and have his own stock market terminals in his office!
Think of the catastrophe that would have befallen him!
The war criminal was in this little town and hearing the protesters gathered outside shouting; “out out” he had commented; “do they not know I am no longer the prime minister?” He just could not comprehend that those shouting outside were unhappy that such a war criminal had set foot into their little town and did not want his dirty presence to sully their quaint little town.
BTW did anyone notice the pistol hand (around 2:10 mark) as he was talking about the resolutions?
RD at 12.13 pm.
A defy you to find one example of any of those smears.
Anyway, stop trying to divert the thread to cover for your friend, the war-criminal, Tony Blair. It is about Chilcot. Tony Blair and David Kelly are on-topic. Your mad-head ramblings are not.
A defy = I defy
Does anybody else get the impression that the blog has some hidden code changing what is written?
Worthwhile post. I share the misgivings – and how. I think also that the IRAK WAR was a subjective crude tit-for-tat hit back for 9/11. I do not imply that that motive had any justification I just mean that deep in the BUSH US psyche 9/11 likely motivated the war.
Well that would imply that Bu$h knew 9/11 will happen seventy two hours after the supreme court selection set him up as potus! That is precisely how long it took before the Bu$h administration had a meeting about attacking Iraq.
The flame-haired temptress is coming back. Soon we hear.
Do they still meet up – on horseback or elsewhere?
Cameron
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02155/horse_2155300b.jpg
Blair
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1631294/images/n-TONY-BLAIR-REBEKAH-BROOKS-large570.jpg
Better links
Cameron/horse/Brooks
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/9141227/Horsegate-Questions-about-whether-Rebekah-Brooks-not-Charlie-is-David-Camerons-real-friend.html
Blair/Brooks
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/19/tony-blair-hacking-rebekah-brooks_n_4814547.html
lol
Do you recollect Cameron believing Lots of Love!
BTW Mary have you read anything about this preoccupation with “Papiere” out of the pre WWII Germany now practiced in Australia?
The Border Force announced its armed black uniformed officers would for the first time join police and transport security officers this weekend as part of a crackdown on violence and anti-social behaviour in Melbourne’s nightspots under “Operation Fortitude”.
No doubt soon we will get our Border force patrolling our streets too.
“I defy you to find one example of any of those smears”
Don’t bother John, some people just don’t do evidence and stuff like that – it’s tiresome and demeaning. It’s like trying to have a sensible conversation with a bowl of yoghurt.
Thanks for the support MJ. Water off a duck’s back. If it was somebody with debating skills it might be different. His two word memes, often stretched out into paragraphs, demonstrate the extent of his intellect. RD is not a challenger I’m afraid. 😀
As you know Resident Dissident has long waved the (red) flag for Tony Blair, the man who turned the Labour Party into another Tory Party, took us into an illegal war, and got richer than any former prime minister in the process. We all know what kind of a caring individual that makes him.
Don’t be so uncharitable to pots of yoghurt, one could have a much more sensible conversation with these than entering into a “debate” with some of the “contributors” around this joint.
“You might like this: over on Guardian comments someone has just described Corbyn as “a trotskyist version of Catweazel”, which made me laugh.”
Nothing works!
Fedup Perhaps the execrable Col Richard Kemp did the groundwork. He was in Oz in March. Run through this Wiki entry. He is well qualified.
Anti-Israel protesters run riot at Sydney uni
http://www.jewishnews.net.au/anti-israel-protesters-run-riot-at-sydney-uni/41008
and Evan Jones who produced that recent and excellent piece of work linked on Medialens and on here http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/08/28/zionism-in-britain-a-neglected-chronicle/
Israel’s cheer squad and Sydney University – Part 1
18 June 2015
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/israels-cheer-squad-and-sydney-university—part-1-,7836
Parts 2, 3 and 4 are linked at the end of the above.
There is a violent and racist atmosphere in Australia and Abbott fans the flames.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Kemp
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11827813/Col-Richard-Kemp-Turning-our-back-on-Afghanistan-could-trigger-another-911.html
27 August 2015
He just loves war.
https://twitter.com/COLRICHARDKEMP
“Australian border force, police, and transport officers will take up positions at various locations around the CBD and will be “speaking with any individual we cross paths with”, said ABF regional commander, Don Smith.”
That was cancelled after protests.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/border-force-operation-fortitude-cancelled-as-protesters-take-to-melbournes-cbd-streets-20150828-gja3mp.html
“Protesters quickly took to the streets of Melbourne after the federal government announced that Australian Border Force would target potential visa fraudsters in the heart of the city.”
“As you know Resident Dissident has long waved the (red) flag for Tony Blair”
Then it should be quite easy for the inveterate liar to link to where this has happened.
MY/Goss
Any in particular you would like me to provide evidence for?
For starters here is evidence of Mr Goss’s friends on Russian State TV trying to rewite history on the Prague Spring.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/czechs-slovaks-protest-russian-film-on-prague-spring-1433186284
“As you know Resident Dissident has long waved the (red) flag for Tony Blair”
By never criticising him. You find a place where you have! Now that is a difficult task.
But it would arguably be better to have your views on Chilcot – if you have any.