(no subject)

[webofevil]

The initial decision to hold the Iraq war inquiry in private appeared to many of Gordon Brown’s defenders to be uncharacteristic of him. It seemed evasive, shifty and self-serving… oh, right:

Blair pushed Brown to hold Iraq war inquiry in private

Tony Blair urged Gordon Brown to hold the independent inquiry into the Iraq war in secret because he feared that he would be subjected to a “show trial” if it were opened to the public... The revelation that the former prime minister—who led Britain to war in March 2003—had intervened will fuel the anger of MPs, peers, military leaders and former civil servants, who were appalled by Brown's decision last week to order the investigation to be conducted behind closed doors.

Blair, who resisted pressure for a full public inquiry while he was prime minister, appears to have taken a deliberate decision not to express his view in person to Brown because he feared it might leak out. Instead, messages on the issue were relayed through others to Sir Gus O'Donnell, the cabinet secretary, who conveyed them to the prime minister in the days leading up to the announcement of the inquiry last week. [Observer]

Tony has said recently that he regrets not having been more up-front about his faith while Prime Minister. Because, of course, the problem with his tenure was that it wasn’t sanctimonious enough.

Incidentally, even if some of the inquiry does end up being held in public, you could do worse than nip down to William Hill and punt a sizeable sum on its conclusions being the same I Ching pronouncement as every other British establishment inquiry ever held: “Bad things happen. No blame.”

Comments

[ruudboy.livejournal.com]

Can I have that in a double with no policeman being charged with anything in connection with the death of someone just going about their daily business. Ever?

[webofevil.livejournal.com]

I think you're sorely underestimating the very real impact on a police force of a successful health and safety prosecution (http://webofevil.livejournal.com/304272.html).