Category: Iraqi War

The Observers headline today makes for interesting reading. According to the report the US has been carrying out surveillance on the middle-six Security Council members. If true, and I would not be surprised if it is, then the US is engaged in an illegal activity – and is destined to war.

As usual, neo-Darwinist writer Richard Dawkins does some straight talking. He cuts out all the bullshit – and says exactly what he thinks.

The timing alone indicates that the real reason for war is neither of the two offered by Tony Blair. If it had been, all this would have blown up long ago. It would not have waited until George Bush failed to catch Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and needed a new foreign adventure to divert his electorate.

And on Bush he has even more stinging remarks

This is George Bush’s war. His motives and his timing have an internal American rationale. Bush is so unswerving in his thirst for war that Saddam has even less incentive to disarm than Blair’s paradox would suggest. Cowboy Bush is saying, in effect, “Stick your hands up, drop your weapons, and I’ll shoot you anyway.

Brilliant.

David Aaronovitch expresses the view that an attack on Iraq is justified.

An excellent piece, clearcut in its view, and accurate in the chronology of events last year that have led to where we are now – inevitable war. I absolutely agree with her – the reasons to go to war are few and far between and it was noted:

James R Schlesinger, who is now a member of Richard Perle’s Defence Policy Board, told The Washington Post in July, “our credibility would be badly damaged if that regime change did not take place”.

Quite.

British and American forces planning war against Iraq have revealed details of their plans to topple Saddam Hussein, which will start with a devastating bombing campaign ahead of a massive ground attack by thousands of troops from Kuwait.

Defence and intelligence officials have told The Observer that they have drawn up a list of targets, including Saddam’s home town of Tikrit, as well as key Ministries and properties owned by members of Saddam’s family and senior Iraqi officials.

Tom McGurk again this week on Iraq. In his piece he gives ten good reasons why war with Iraq is foolhardy.

Julie Birchill writes a diatribe against anti-war folk such as myself. She lists several reasons as to why the arguments of anti-war people are nonsense, but in no real way justifies a war that will kill many of the people that she claims a war would save. Not sure about her logic, and many of her arguments are ad hominem, and fail to deal directly with the issues.

Jackie Ashley interviews Tony Blair on his apparent date with history.