Campbell: We all had doubts about Iraq except Tony (Blair)

[TexasLawyer]

Source: Independent/ UK


Campbell: We all had doubts about Iraq except Tony
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor
Published: 09 July 2007

All of Tony Blair's closest aides had "severe moments of doubt" about his decision to join the American invasion of Iraq, Alastair Campbell reveals in his diaries, published today.

Downing Street's former director of communications suggests that Mr Blair was the only member of his inner circle who did not have private reservations about the decision to topple Saddam Hussein.

The Blair Years describes the scene in the former prime minister's Commons room after he won the crucial vote on the eve of the war despite a rebellion by 139 Labour MPs. He wrote at the time: "All of us, I think, had had pretty severe moments of doubt but he hadn't really, or if he had he had hidden them from us. Now there was no going back at all."

The previous day, the Cabinet met without Robin Cook, who had resigned over the war. According to Mr Campbell, John Prescott, John Reid and one or two other cabinet ministers "looked physically sick".

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Read more: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2747722.ece

[Faygo Kid]

1. Tony Blair chose his legacy: Bush's poodle.

It's over for Tony Blair. His historical legacy is cemented, like Colin Powell's. They had a chance to stand up for truth to a madman, and they blew it. Goodbye, Tony. On your way out, don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.

[Amonester]

2. And maybe they WERE physically sick, because...

you know...

They KNEW they were about to go the bu$che/chainy&co way:

They KNEW they were about to... BREAK THE LAW

(regime change is ILLEGAL in International Law)

But they decided to become COMPLICIT of the LAWBREAKERS.

why? Petro-military "contribution$" (??) :shrug:

money can buy any crime?? :grr:

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. And the moral of the story is.. if you have ginger hair and a dicky heart, or live near woods

and wear spectacles, don't oppose the war. Such inscrutable contraindications!

That's it. I'm taking up medicine. Dr K Marx MD has a certain ring to it.

[dysfunctional press]

4. that's what being in the carlyle group is all about.

pulling political warstrings for fun and profit!

[TheBaldyMan]

5. there was a great interview with Campbell on the BBC radio Today show

the interviewer kept mentioning the sexed-up dossier that Campbell had a significant part in rewriting.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/downloadtrial/radio4/today/today_20070709-0900_40_st.mp3">Alistair Campbell interview - Today, BBC Radio 4, 09 July 2007 mp3 format 11.6Mb

It was very entertaining to hear the good spin-doctor squirm as he was repeatedly dragged back to the subject.

[LeftishBrit]

6. They should have resigned like Cook...

Reid looked physically ill??? He's the last person I'd have thought would have doubts on Iraq. He's been absolutely gung-ho all these years, and is a bloody incompetent and an insane right-winger who has attacked Cameron the Tory leader for being too soft. If you liked Lieberman and Miller, you'll love John Reid! He makes ME physically ill.

And Campbell is a prat.