U.K. inquiry lifts veil on Iraq secrets (Documents Declassified)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/957371.asp?0cv=CB10

The British inquiry into the death of a renowned expert on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction is having an unprecedented secondary effect: it has lifted a veil of secrecy over British government communications, quickly making public information that traditionally takes years to declassify.

--snip--

Beyond the stark political ramifications for Blair and some of his top advisors, however, the Hutton Inquiry’s work is reverberating throughout all levels of power here.

While witnesses called to testify in courtroom 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice have provided their fair share of shockers, perhaps one of the most astonishing revelations has come in the virtual world, on the inquiry’s Web site, where over the weekend Hutton made public hundreds of normally classified e-mails and memos that reveal how British officials prepared to publicly defend the government’s decision to help the United States oust Saddam.

More remarkable, many say, was that many of the 9,000 pages of classified government communications were only a few months old — and some only a few weeks old — providing, in research terms, the closest thing to real time analysis of the inner workings of a modern-day government before, during and after a war.

“It’s an absolute first,” said Nicholas Jones, author of two books analyzing the Blair government. “There are hundreds of documents, and they’re of the caliber you’d usually wait 30 years to see,” said Jones, who worked at the BBC for 30 years covering British politics.

[AP]

1. This is meant to get those 'trust' numbers back up for Blair.

One interesting thing about this is that the public doesn't really have any guage for measuring whether the documents reveal more diligence than most governments use to justify their actions or less. I'd love to see some of the old Tory papers on Northern Ireland or Falkland Islands strategy.

[salin]

3. unless of course

it wasn't due dilligence but data hunting (and later twisting). Your faith in good intentions, is admirable.

Certainly similar if not worse documentation would likely be found from foreign policy shennanigans of the Tory governments.

Unfortunately those tory governments haven't had a hand in undermining US elections as was the case in 2002 when Blair's taking the front man role over from Bush, in hyping the war (with no known to be very sketchy "evidence"), had a disasterous impact upon numerous democratic congressional candidates campaigns.

I fear that Blair was between a harsh rock and a hard place. No question about it. But it does not excuse the role that he played - nor excise him from the hand he played in strengthening bush at home - prior to his front role - the US public was not buying Iraq - especially without broad international support and UN backing.

I agree that things would be worse now with a Tory government in Britain - but I don't know how Blair will survive this. Is there any strategy that can salvage the Labour Party? Are we stuck with Blair as the worse of two evils - who will continue to bolster the shennanigans in the US by giving the appearance of credibility to US voters? Will Blair continue to enable Bush and the GOP? Seriously, a Tory government backing bush would never have had as much credibility here or (initially) internationally.

I am afraid that Blair and Powell have had their long term credibility and respectability tattered by tangoing with the Cowboy-Rovian administration.

[AP]

4. Salin, I love you, but Blair had no impact on 2002 elections.

If anyone bothered listening to what Blair actually says, they'd realize that he's not talking a talk that's helpful to Bush.

Do you think Clinton going to the Labour Conferences helps Bush? Do you think that Blair going to Iraq, while Bush is only brave enough to fly over it and point at it helps Bush? Do you think talking about how the UN should be involved helps Bush?

[0007]

6. You have it nailed down exactly the way I see it!

John Major & Tony Blair have a lot in common with the Carlyle Group.

[LivingInTheBubble]

2. You can get some docs online

http://www.the-hutton-inquiry.org.uk/

Just thought i'd mention it seems it seems relevant.

[acropolis]

5. Hey, do any of these relate to uranium from Africa?

Cause that has been the only thing slowing uranium momentum so far. The claim that the British had intel that didn't relate to the forged documents...

[newyawker99]

7. Hi acropolis!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: