Bush Warned of Chaos

In previously suppressed documents, it has been revealed that Carne Ross, Britain's key negotiator at the UN, gave evidence stating that Tony Blair lied over Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

Ross's testimony makes clear that Blair would have known that Saddam Hussein possessed no weapons of mass destruction. He said that during his posting to the UN:

"at no time did HMG [Her Majesty's Government] assess that Iraq's WMD (or any other capability) posed a threat to the UK or its interests."

Ross also states that British officials warned US diplomats, that bringing down the Iraqi dictator would lead to chaos.

Quote:

"I remember on several occasions the UK team stating this view in terms during our discussions with the US (who agreed).

At the same time, we would frequently argue when the US raised the subject, that 'regime change' was inadvisable, primarily on the grounds that Iraq would collapse into chaos."

Unfortunately, the US is currently being governed by the worst president in living memory. Bush is not known for listening to opinions or facts that diverge from his own narrow "quasi religious" viewpoint.

The sooner this president is removed from office, the better.

A State of Denial

President Bush is in a state of denial over the Iraq fiasco. Bush has defended his decision to put off a change in Iraq policy until next month, and rejected some recommendations that he said would "lead to defeat".

The reality is, the US has lost the war in Iraq. All that remains to be done is to determine the least messy way of pulling out.

Swift Death, Secret Burial

Not wishing to prejudice the outcome of Saddam Hussein's appeal against the death penalty (note, I am being sarcastic!), an Iraqi official has said that if Saddam loses his appeal, he could face an immediate execution and possibly be buried in secret.

Seemingly Saddam and two of his co-defendants, Awad Hamed al-Bandar and Barzan al-Tikriti, may not spend years on death row as in the West.

Quote:

"We will not waste time. We will look at the security situation and they will be executed immediately at the very first opportunity we get after the appeals chamber finalises the verdicts."

The official denied a very prejudicial statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki saying that the death sentence would be carried out by the end of the year, noting that the review by the high court will continue past December.

The fact that Saddam is still being tried for other crimes has apparently not entered the equation.

Is predetermined execution the norm of the new justice system in the new Iraq?

Is president Bush proud of the "new order" that he has "created" in Iraq?

Will Iraq still exist when sentence is passed?

"Mission Accomplished", Pah!

Saddam's Nephew Does a Runner

Ayman Sabawi, the son of Saddam's half brother Sabawi Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti, managed to escape from his prison 45 miles west of Mosul on Saturday afternoon.

He was aided and abetted by a police officer in making good his escape.

Sabawi was sentenced to life in prison for funding Iraq's insurgency and for bomb-making.

The Baker Report Summarised

"We lost."

"Let's get the hell out of here!"

A New Approach?

Tony Blair and US President George Bush have said they will take a "new approach" to the war in Iraq in a joint press conference designed to show they still stand together on the issue.

The two leaders used the press conference to respond to the Iraq Study Group's blunt assessment of US failings and their vision of future policy.

"I believe we need a new approach," President Bush said one day after the scathing report was published.

Source ITV.

The trouble is, does anyone really believe that Bush is capable of changing his mind, or his approach, when it comes to Iraq?

Security Scare

The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed after a two hour delay today, as a result of a security scare.

A sniffer dog detected something at a security gate in the Green Zone, where the Saddam trial is being held.

The incident prevented the defence team from reaching the court on time.

US Losing in Iraq

To view an excellent report on the testimony of Robert Gates before the Senate Armed Services Committee, visit US Losing.

The New Comedy

Saddam Hussein is back in court today, despite writing to the chief judge saying that he no longer wants to go to court.

Saddam's lawyers issued a handwritten statement yesterday, in which Saddam claimed that he had been repeatedly insulted by Judge al-Khalifa and the prosecutors.

Quote:

"Therefore, I ask to be relieved of attending the hearings in this new comedy and you can do whatever you want."

It is not clear as to why he changed his mind.

Chief judge, Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, called a prosecution witness to the stand, reversing his Monday decision that the court would not hear more witnesses but instead review the evidence.

The farce continues.

Life Better Under Saddam

Outgoing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has put the cat amongst the pigeons, by claiming that many Iraqis feel that life is even worse now than it was under Saddam Hussein.

During interview about Iraq with the BBC, Annan said:

"Given the level of violence, the level of killing and bitterness and the way that forces are arranged against each other, a few years ago, when we had the strife in Lebanon and other places, we called that a civil war; this is much worse."

Annan also said that many Iraqis must believe that life is even worse now, than it was under Saddam.

Quote:

"If I were an average Iraqi obviously I would make the same comparison, that they had a dictator who was brutal but they had their streets, they could go out, their kids could go to school and come back home without a mother or father worrying, 'Am I going to see my child again?"

Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, rejected the comments. His office said:

"Describing what is taking place in Iraq as a civil war beautifies the former regime which is known for its crimes against humanity."