Agreement Reached?

Some 250 days after the Iraq general election (a world record) it seems that an agreement may finally have been reached between the politicians as to forming a government in Iraq.

A unity government will be formed, headed by the incumbent prime minister (Nouri al-Maliki).

That's the easy bit, now all the politicians have to do is govern the country!

Bush's Claims Backfire

Former President George Bush's claims that "waterboarding" garnered valuable intelligence that saved lives have been disputed in the UK.

Lord MacDonald, former Director of Public Prosecutions, said:

"These stories about waterboarding thwarting attacks on Canary Wharf and Heathrow - I've never seen anything to substantiate these claims.

These claims are to be treated with a great deal of scepticism."

Legal experts are also of the view that, having sanctioned the interrogation technique, Bush could be arrested for breaking international law if he travels abroad.

Bush Defends Waterboarding

The Guardian quotes former President Bush as defending the technique of "waterboarding" (now banned under President Obama) terrorist suspects:

"I knew an interrogation programme this sensitive and controversial would one day become public. When it did, we would open ourselves up to criticism that America had compromised our moral values. I would have preferred that we get the information another way. But the choice between security and values was real.

Their interrogations helped break up plots to attack American diplomatic facilities abroad, Heathrow airport and Canary Wharf in London, and multiple targets in the United States."

There is much debate as to whether (morality aside) techniques such as this actually produce any real information that actually saves lives.

That "Sickening Feeling"

Former US president George Bush is set to publish an autobiography ("Decision Points") in which he admits to having a "sickening feeling" wrt the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Bush still believes that the invasion of Iraq was justified, saying that "the Iraqi people are better off with a government that answers to them instead of torturing and murdering them".

All very well, but the reality is that 241 days since the Iraq election the people of Iraq still do not have a government!

Bush seems to have conveniently ignored that point.

Taking The Piss

Those of you who think that MEP's are paid far too much, for doing "sweet F A" in the European Parliament, should bear in mind what Iraq's MPs are up to (or rather not up to).

Iraq, the dubious title holder of the country with the longest gap between an election and the formation of a government (240 days and counting), pays its MPs £180K) per annum

To date, since there is still no government, the MPs have "worked" for only 20 minutes ("work" being a Quranic reading, the playing of the national anthem and the swearing-in of new members) since their election in March and have not passed a single law.

Once out of office, they will get 80% of their salary for life.

Taking the piss or what?

Is this really what the "war for democractisation of Iraq" was all about?

Thanks, But No Thanks

Despite entering the record books as being the country that has remained without a government for the longest period since an election, it seems that the political parties in Iraq are still no closer to forming a government.

Iraq's Shiite alliance has turned down an offer, extended by Saudi Arabia to host all party talks aimed at ending the months long political deadlock.

239 days and counting!

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.