Michael Smith | Ministers were told of need for Gulf war ‘excuse’

[bpcmxr]

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Apologies if a dupe:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1650822,00.html

Ministers were told of need for Gulf war ‘excuse’
by Michael Smith
June 12, 2005

MINISTERS were warned in July 2002 that Britain was committed to taking part in an American-led invasion of Iraq and they had no choice but to find a way of making it legal.

The warning, in a leaked Cabinet Office briefing paper, said Tony Blair had already agreed to back military action to get rid of Saddam Hussein at a summit at the Texas ranch of President George W Bush three months earlier.

The briefing paper, for participants at a meeting of Blair’s inner circle on July 23, 2002, said that since regime change was illegal it was “necessary to create the conditions” which would make it legal.

<snip>

The briefing paper is certain to add to the pressure, particularly on the American president, because of the damaging revelation that Bush and Blair agreed on regime change in April 2002 and then looked for a way to justify it.


Much more at link.

[PurityOfEssence]

1. "Find a way to make it legal"; now THAT'S a phrase with legs

This just reeks of gangsterism. It's a succinct little phrase that could be a rallying cry. Regardless of whether it's the abrasive and corrosive line like "I am not a crook" or "what did the president know and when did he know it", it's definitely heading in the right direction.

History has been forged with the bright coals of the understandable phrases, and we need to be good showmen.

What's great about this phrase is that it's a COMMAND, and it's one that shows the deliberate manipulation of the law to justify unjustified acts.

[magellan]

2. Has the Sunday Times released the Crawford briefing paper?

It seems the Sunday Times has viewed the briefing paper because it's also mentioned in this May 1st editorial by the same writer (I'm assuming this was a companion piece to the DSM article):

Blair planned Iraq war from start

AS a civil service briefing paper specifically prepared for the July meeting reveals, Blair had made his fundamental decision on Saddam when he met President George W Bush in Crawford, Texas, in April 2002.

Does anyone know if it's been shared publicly yet? Or is the Sunday Times whetting our appetite? I wish they would run it already, I've been looking everywhere for a copy to see precisely what it says!