Tariq Aziz

The death sentence of the former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, has drawn international condemnation (with the exception of the USA, who refer to it as an "internal matter" for Iraq).

Haven't enough people died already as a result of this misguided war?

Once More Unto The Breach

It seems that Tony Blair faces a recall to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war, as it appears that Blair's recent memoirs highlight "inconsistencies" with the evidence he gave to the inquiry during his last appearance.

Blair is likely to appear again at the inquiry early next year.

Dr Kelly's Post Mortem Report Released

In order to end the speculation over the death in 2003 of Dr David Kelly (the Iraq arms expert), the government has released the post mortem report that had originally been sealed for 70 years.

The report blamed his death on blood loss after cuts to his left wrist, aided by a painkiller overdose and "silent" heart disease.

The report confirms Lord Hutton's verdict that Dr Kelly committed suicide.

Closing The Stable Door

The irony of the UK defence cuts, announced by the government this week, is that the armed forces will no longer be able to embark on "Iraq style invasions".

Had that invasion not been sanctioned by Labour it would have saved lives and many billions of pounds, thus lessening the effects of this week's cuts.

The Last Chance for Democracy

Despite the Iraq invasion being sold to the public as being for the "democratisation" of Iraq, it seems that "democracy" is still having trouble taking route in that wrecked country.

Ninevah provincial Gov. Atheel al-Nujaifi (a Sunni) issued a warning over the weekend that "last chance for democracy" could be derailed, if Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (a Shiite) retains power by making alliances with hardline Shiite factions and Kurds.

Democracy cannot be enforced on a country by outsiders with the barrel of a gun, the citizens of that country have to be left to find their own path to democracy.

Iraq Breaks a Record

It is sad to read that Iraq, the country that was "saved" from dictatorship by the Iraq war, has broken a record.

Today it will have spent 208 days, since its general election, still trying to form a government (without any success).

That is a world record!

You Voted For It!

Kudos to David Miliband for admonishing Harriet Harmon for clapping Ed Miliband's "rejection" of the Iraq war.

As David said to Harmon:

"Why are you clapping?

You voted for it".

Ex Cabinet members cannot wiggle out of collective responsibility for the war so easily.

Britain Has Regrets

Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, will tell the UN today that Britain has regrets about the Iraq war.

He will say:

"In recent years we have learned – in some cases the hard way – that democracy cannot be created by diktat.

Freedom cannot be commanded into existence."

Quite!

I have said many times before that democracy cannot be imposed via the barrel of a gun, and that shouting "Yee Hah!" is not an effective tool of foreign policy.

Fantasy Merchants

It seems that George W. Bush and his advisers focused on toppling Saddam Hussein as soon as Bush took office, and discussed how to justify a war in Iraq.

AFP report that Donald Rumsfeld, US Defence Secretary in 2001, said before the invasion of Iraq:

"If Saddam's regime were ousted, we would have a much-improved position in the region and elsewhere."

What planet were these people living on?

Known and Unknown

I see that Donald Rumsfeld, George W Bush's ex Defence Secretary, is planning to publish his memoirs (entitled "Known and Unknown") in January 2011.

Doubtless these will correct any misunderstandings that people may have about him and the Iraq war.