In case anyone is wondering what the cost of the Iraq war has been to the USA, aside from the lives lost, they can read about it in The Times.
The current estimate gives a cost of around $3 Trillion.
This bill will be hanging around the taxpayers' necks for decades.
Mission accomplished!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Secrets Begat Secrets and Lies
It seems that the release earlier this week of the first draft of the "dodgy dossier", which was used by Blair to take Britain to war in Iraq, was not quite as full and frank as some may have believed.
The Guardian reports that the Foreign Office successfully fought to keep secret any mention of Israel in the release this week. The Foreign Office succeeded before a tribunal in having a handwritten mention of Israel kept secret.
What was on that handwritten note?
A reference to Israel's nuclear arsenal, and an inference that Israel had flouted the United Nations' authority in a manner similar to that of the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein.
Unfortunately for the Foreign Office, their meddling has been made public and their attempt to suppress the note has failed.
The question now arises as to what else is being withheld from the British public?
The Guardian reports that the Foreign Office successfully fought to keep secret any mention of Israel in the release this week. The Foreign Office succeeded before a tribunal in having a handwritten mention of Israel kept secret.
What was on that handwritten note?
A reference to Israel's nuclear arsenal, and an inference that Israel had flouted the United Nations' authority in a manner similar to that of the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein.
Unfortunately for the Foreign Office, their meddling has been made public and their attempt to suppress the note has failed.
The question now arises as to what else is being withheld from the British public?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Ownership of Yacht Disputed
The ownership of the 269-foot Ocean Breeze, built for Saddam Hussein and docked on the French Riviera, which is up for sale is currently under dispute.
Iraq claims that it belongs to a member of Saddam's entourage, as such it is now the property of the government of Iraq.
A court hearing will be held in March to determine ownership.
The Ocean Breeze was made for a 35-member crew and has 10 rooms, several salons with large-screen TVs, pools, saunas, gold plumbing fixtures, a prayer room and a portable helicopter pad.
It also has special fittings eg; bulletproof windows, a missile-launching system and a secret passage leading to a mini-submarine.
Iraq claims that it belongs to a member of Saddam's entourage, as such it is now the property of the government of Iraq.
A court hearing will be held in March to determine ownership.
The Ocean Breeze was made for a 35-member crew and has 10 rooms, several salons with large-screen TVs, pools, saunas, gold plumbing fixtures, a prayer room and a portable helicopter pad.
It also has special fittings eg; bulletproof windows, a missile-launching system and a secret passage leading to a mini-submarine.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Dodgy Dossier - First Draft
After many years of ministerial obfuscation and evasion, the British people have been finally allowed to read the text of the first draft of the so called "dodgy dossier" that took them war in Iraq on a false premise - namely that Saddam Hussein possessed WMD.
The first draft made a series of claims about the extent and danger of the Iraqi president's weapons arsenal. However, by the time the final version (the basis for war) was released in September 2002, those had been "sexed up".
In other words, in order to justify the war, Blair and his acolytes adjusted the facts.
The first draft was written by John Williams, the former director of communications at the Foreign Office (ie a spin doctor, not a security expert). He warned that Saddam had come to power by "torture, rape and execution" and concluded that Iraq presented a "uniquely dangerous threat to the world".
There was no mention of Saddam's capability (now disproved) of launching WMD in 45 minutes.
The final dossier, allegedly written by John Scarlett, who was then the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, stated:
"Iraq's military forces are able to use chemical and biological weapons, with command, control and logistical arrangements in place. The Iraqi military are able to deploy these weapons within 45 minutes of a decision to do so."
Last night, Mr Williams told BBC Radio 4's PM programme:
"The 45-minutes claim was absolutely nothing whatever to do with me. It was news to me."
Opposition parties have renewed their calls for a public inquiry into the build-up to the war.
I doubt that Tony Blair cares much one way or another, given that in a supreme twist of sick irony he is now the so called Middle East peace envoy.
The first draft made a series of claims about the extent and danger of the Iraqi president's weapons arsenal. However, by the time the final version (the basis for war) was released in September 2002, those had been "sexed up".
In other words, in order to justify the war, Blair and his acolytes adjusted the facts.
The first draft was written by John Williams, the former director of communications at the Foreign Office (ie a spin doctor, not a security expert). He warned that Saddam had come to power by "torture, rape and execution" and concluded that Iraq presented a "uniquely dangerous threat to the world".
There was no mention of Saddam's capability (now disproved) of launching WMD in 45 minutes.
The final dossier, allegedly written by John Scarlett, who was then the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, stated:
"Iraq's military forces are able to use chemical and biological weapons, with command, control and logistical arrangements in place. The Iraqi military are able to deploy these weapons within 45 minutes of a decision to do so."
Last night, Mr Williams told BBC Radio 4's PM programme:
"The 45-minutes claim was absolutely nothing whatever to do with me. It was news to me."
Opposition parties have renewed their calls for a public inquiry into the build-up to the war.
I doubt that Tony Blair cares much one way or another, given that in a supreme twist of sick irony he is now the so called Middle East peace envoy.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Rubbish
Graham Hudson, a contemporary British sculpture, is feeling somewhat humiliated after a piece of his work that is meant to depict Saddam Hussein's wife (Sajida Talfah) has been mistaken for rubbish.
Hudson managed to convince the local council to pay £2K for a collage of oil drum, cable wheels, cardboard boxes, paint and adhesive tape and to erect it in Holland Park.
Passers by are of the opinion that it is a pile of rubbish.
Money and time well spent!
Hudson managed to convince the local council to pay £2K for a collage of oil drum, cable wheels, cardboard boxes, paint and adhesive tape and to erect it in Holland Park.
Passers by are of the opinion that it is a pile of rubbish.
Money and time well spent!
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Flying The Flag
A new Iraqi flag, sans the three green stars of Saddam Hussein's Baath party, was hoisted over the Iraqi Cabinet building yesterday.
However, don't become too attached to it, it has only a one year life span, before it is altered again.
However, don't become too attached to it, it has only a one year life span, before it is altered again.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Prince Rebukes US
Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, waded into the Iraq fiasco in an interview with the International Herald Tribune. He criticised the US administration for failing to listen to advice from Britain on how to avoid problems following the war in Iraq.
He said that the war had led to a "healthy scepticism" in Britain towards what was said in Washington, noting that the US should have learned lessons from British colonial history.
Doubtless that will go down like a lead balloon in Washington!
Quote:
"..occasions when people in the UK would wish that those in responsible positions in the US might listen and learn from our experiences.
If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign - we have been through them all.
We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."
American government officials refused to comment. An insider wisely told the Telegraph that it was not an area they would "want to touch with a bargepole".
The Prince is of course correct.
However, he is assuming that we really pushed our case hard at the time with Washington. After all, we only have Bliar's word for it that we made serious overtures about the post invasion strategy.
He said that the war had led to a "healthy scepticism" in Britain towards what was said in Washington, noting that the US should have learned lessons from British colonial history.
Doubtless that will go down like a lead balloon in Washington!
Quote:
"..occasions when people in the UK would wish that those in responsible positions in the US might listen and learn from our experiences.
If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign - we have been through them all.
We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."
American government officials refused to comment. An insider wisely told the Telegraph that it was not an area they would "want to touch with a bargepole".
The Prince is of course correct.
However, he is assuming that we really pushed our case hard at the time with Washington. After all, we only have Bliar's word for it that we made serious overtures about the post invasion strategy.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Re Baathification
Iraq's presidency council issued a law yesterday that will allow thousands of Saddam Hussein-era officials to return to government jobs.
The new law was passed by parliament on January 12. However, it was issued without the signature of the Sunni vice president, and the presidency council cited reservations and plans to seek changes in the bill.
The question is will the former officials feel safe enough to return to their old jobs?
The new law was passed by parliament on January 12. However, it was issued without the signature of the Sunni vice president, and the presidency council cited reservations and plans to seek changes in the bill.
The question is will the former officials feel safe enough to return to their old jobs?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tactical Error
It seems that Saddam Hussein allowed the world to believe the US claims that he had WMD, in order to deter Iran from launching an attack.
This at least is the view of George Piro, the FBI agent who interviewed Saddam after his 2003 capture.
Piro also claims that Saddam was surprised by the US invasion.
Piro is quoted in CBS 60 Minutes as saying:
"He told me he initially miscalculated ... President Bush's intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 ... a four-day aerial attack.
He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack."
Now the Iraqi people have to deal with the consequences of the errors of Saddam and the US.
This at least is the view of George Piro, the FBI agent who interviewed Saddam after his 2003 capture.
Piro also claims that Saddam was surprised by the US invasion.
Piro is quoted in CBS 60 Minutes as saying:
"He told me he initially miscalculated ... President Bush's intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 ... a four-day aerial attack.
He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack."
Now the Iraqi people have to deal with the consequences of the errors of Saddam and the US.
Monday, January 28, 2008
War in Three Months
As Bush and his colleagues try to console themselves that the so called "surge" has worked, and has achieved a measurable reduction in violence in Iraq, they may care to reflect on an interview given to The Independent by Abu Marouf the Sunni commander of 13,000 fighters who formerly fought the Americans.
Abu Marouf is threatening to withdraw his support, and allow al-Qa'ida to return, if his fighters are not incorporated into the Iraqi army and police.
Quote:
"If there is no change in three months there will be war again."
Bush needs to wake up to the fact that the violence in Iraq has fallen, not because of the surge, but because the United States has handed power to the guerrillas who previously fought it.
Mission accomplished!
Abu Marouf is threatening to withdraw his support, and allow al-Qa'ida to return, if his fighters are not incorporated into the Iraqi army and police.
Quote:
"If there is no change in three months there will be war again."
Bush needs to wake up to the fact that the violence in Iraq has fallen, not because of the surge, but because the United States has handed power to the guerrillas who previously fought it.
Mission accomplished!
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