US does not need NATO for Iran War - Update

BBC News: Reports in its 3.45pm post the following?  "  WE DON'T NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!': Trump criticises Nato allies " 

Let's Get Real:

The NATO countries will pay  a price for this and importantly so will the Ukraine.  The Labour Government should remember Suez crisis of 1956, when President Eisenhower, Ike, pulled the carpet from under the UK,France and Israel after they invaded the Suez Canal, if Ike can do it, Trump can do it over Ukraine, and the whole of Europe will have to carry the load for the Ukraine.  It should be noted that Ike regretted move but he was in a Election for a 2nd term at the time.

Starmer is no Churchill - Update

 BBC News: Reports in its 5.09pm post" This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,' Trump says of Starmer,  " 

Let's Get Real:

This blog has never been so embarrassed by a UK PM, he is an appeaser in the mold of Neville Chamberlain.  The UK PM always sticks with the American President, no matter what, the Great Churchill had to see FDR trying to be friendly with Stalin at Yalta.  Eden learned that the hard way over Suez.  The balance this we should consider that the Great Reagan was slow over the Falklands War in 1982, he supported the Right wing Regime in Argentina, he came around in the end.  Reagan invaded Grenada in 1983, without telling Thatcher, the Queen was head of State, Grenada had become another Cuba threat.  Things will strain sometimes, but it will recover with a new UK PM. Let's remember how close Tony Blair was to Bush 43, he is seen by those on the left as a War Criminal, but that is a minority view, at least Blair was loyal, Bush 43 offered him an out over the Iraq Invasion, Blair at the prospect of losing No 10, kept in with Bush 43, that is loyalty even at being pushed out of office in 2007.

Blair being honest or a Master ACTOR - After Iraq Inquiry

Telegraph: Reports " Gaunt, hoarse and haunted: Tony Blair looked a broken man "

Lets Get Real:

Tony Blair seems to thrive when he is under pressure, yes he can look like a broken man sometimes, but then there comes the second wind and he defends his position.   AS the Inquiry is now over the headlines will fade, events change as a old British PM said.   Thus one can expect Blair to use his political powers to get rid of Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour Party needs a new Tony Blair and must learn to love the old one, or at least like.   Time is always going forward, events, events.

Suez, Iraq - Eden, Blair - Failed Foreign Policy

Guardian: Reports " Overall, Chilcot’s report amounts to arguably the most scathing official verdict on any modern British prime minister. It implicitly lumps Blair in the same category as Anthony Eden, who invaded Egypt. Chilcot’s 2.6m-word, 12-volume report was released on Wednesday morning, together with a 145-page executive summary. "

Lets Get Real:

Let us recall that Tony Blair won a general election in 2005, that was two years after the War started,  he was only pushed out by Gordon Brown in 2007, at least he had a year's grace period, Lady Thatcher had just five days.   THIS blog will never understand how Labour can turn its back on Blair, he won them three election after being out of power for nearly 18 years.  The Iraq War was a mistake based on faulty information, that can happen to any leader, as suggested in my last post, Iraq will not be the last War that he UK gets in too, there will be others, memories fade, bitter memories even fade, the UK acted in Libya under PM Cameron, at least Cameron did not send in ground troops,  then there is always Syria, this blog has argued that it will take ground troops to get rid of Daesh in Syria.  This blog saw this morning that President Obama is keeping eight thousand four troops in Afghanistan, and wants NATO to add more, crisis points change, Blair did the best he could, you can ask nothing more of a leader. 

Darling vs. Brown, The New FEUD

BBC News: Reports on Alistair Darling memoirs, Mr Darling writes that the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown thought that the banking crisis would only last six months and didn’t see the need for Government cuts. These revelations will hurt Brown, lets be honest since Labour lost the 2010 election the books that have come out from Labour leading lights have been scathing about Brown, he had no plan for Government after plotting for ten years, he lack leadership ability, No 10 was a mess under his leadership, his cronies knifed the Cabinet if seen as a threat to Brown. Its fair to say Brown makes Eden look good, even after Suez. Also the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls always look bad in these books, he comes across as a hatched man for Brown.

The UK Cabinet and the Iraq War

Telegraph: Reports that the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has told the Iraq Inquiry that he told the UK Cabinet that the Iraq War would be legal without a new UN resolution even after being told by the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith that the reverse was true. One would really like to see the former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith given evidence under Oath, all roads it seems lead to what the Attorney General thought and when he didn’t think that, as at the last minute he changed his mind. The Iraq War cant be illegal as the UK lost a 179 of its Armed Forces Personnel in the War and its aftermath, it was iffy, it is up there with Suez, if no UK Soldier had died then this blog would quite happy see Mr Blair at the International Court, but our heroic soldiers did die, thus let those deaths be on the mind of Tony Blair for years to come, when you think of Blair think Iraq.

Release Secret Documents - Former Cabinet Secretary

Mail on Sunday: Reports that a former Cabinet Secretary speaking off the record has stated that former Labour PM Tony Blair should be made to release his private correspondence and notes of his talks with Bush 43. As stated in this blog, the UK Establishment is going to hang Tony Blair out to dray, they are not going to take the fall for the mess that was Iraq. As New Labour is dead and buried, as Ed Miliband has thrown Tony Blair over the ship the Establishment have a free hand, a Cabinet Secretary or a former Cabinet Secretary does not speak in this type of case in less he has taken a lot of informed soundings. The papers will get released one way or another, you can count on that, a well placed strategic leak to a newspaper, it really depends on the content, the implication is that Tony Blair lied to Parliament, his argument that the legal advice of the Attorney General was provisional is an interesting argument, this blog would like to know more about the 11 March 2003 meeting between the PM and the Attorney General, the one Tony Blair cant recall the content, does recall Reagan and Iran - Contra and some of those details; lets be clear this blog will defend Iran - Contra to the last detail, Reagan was trying to get hostages out of a hell hole in Lebanon; while Blair was going for the Invasion of Iraq. One can presume that the Iraq Inquiry will be quite scathing about the sofa government of Tony Blair, his statements to the House of Commons, his argument that he was making a political point, a former Cabinet Secretary once stated he was being economical with the truth in the Thatcher Era. No UK Armed Forces Personnel can ever die in an illegal war, but it was iffy, if no troops had died then we could quite happily send Blair to the International Court but our brave forces have died in Iraq, thus this case should be added to Suez, and lets allow Blair to become the new Eden.

BLAIR, with the US all the WAY!

Guardian: Reports that Tony Blair told the US President, George W. Bush, that the UK was with the US all the way. Lets be clear it would have been a political disaster for the then Labour PM if at the last minute he had taken the early view of his Attorney General Lord Goldsmith that the use of force in Iraq without another UN resolution was illegal, the US would not have trusted him or the UK again, the Labour left would have smelled blood, Gordon Brown could have taken over, in his written statement Blair states that if he had removed UK armed forces from the invasion it would have been “ very damaging to the strategic interests of the country ”, Mr Blair could have added he might not have lasted as Labour Leader. By March of 2003 it was to late for Blair to get out, he was offered an out by Bush 43, but by this time Blair who had pushed for the UN route and its failure was stuck with going along with the Bush Agenda for Iraq, at the end of the day it can be argued that WMD was press statement for the War, Bush 43 was going for regime change, this has been US policy under President Bill Clinton, as Blair stated in a press interview he would have found a different reason for War, it just that WMD was something he could sell to the House of Commons and the general public. Blair, Eden, both UK PM’s that have allowed their rhetoric to land them in trouble and ouster in the long run.

Blair Today - Iraq Inquiry

Telegraph: Reports on the second Iraq Inquiry appearance by former Labour PM Tony Blair. In this second appearance at the Iraq Inquiry Mr Blair stated in writing that since the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith had stated a counter opinion to the legality of the Iraq War it was seen as a draft opinion and that the Attorney General would revise his opinion after talking to the US. The second grilling of Tony Blair was interesting, he looked more peeved at being there, also for Tony Blair he was humble, lets recall before politics Mr Blair had a legal career thus he knows how to deal with difficult questions, the issues from watching the Inquiry on TV that caused Mr Blair some discomfort was the fact that the UK Cabinet was not giving all the papers when it came to Iraq, Mr Blair’s argument that the Cabinet read the press was a bit hollow, the UK Cabinet should get all the documents. Also the fact that the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith was kept at arms length while Blair was pushing through another UN Resolution does ask the question what was Lord Goldsmith being paid to do as Attorney General, can the tax payer gets it money back for the months that Lord Goldsmith was kept off the Blair reservation. On the whole if you grade the performance you would have to give Tony Blair a B+ for his defence of the Iraq War, as to if he lied to the House of Commons on the legal justitfcation for the War that has to be left to the opinion of the general public and future historians, as UK Armed Forces Personnel can never die in an illegal war, a VERY iffy War but it cant ever be illegal, just lets leave it with the fact that Blair has Iraq, while Eden had Suez.

Tony Blair Recalled to Iraq Inquiry

BBC News: Reports that former Labour PM Tony Blair has been recalled to the Iraq Inquiry to give further evidence. As stated by this blog the Establishment is wanting to hang someone out to dry for the Iraq War, its never the Establishment, as Labour is out of power and Ed Miliband has stated that he wants to go beyond New Labour the Establishment will feel free to bury New Labour under the headstone of Iraq. Eden had Suez well Blair has Iraq, politics is a ruthless game.

Keep Brown OUT - Bush 43

Telegraph: Reports that former Labour PM Tony Blair planned to stay beyond his 2007 leaving date due to concerns from the Bush White House at having Gordon Brown in power, in the end Brown and his allies forced Mr Blair to name his leaving date early. If this is true this will cause Mr Brown to go bonkers, one can postulate that that he will be thinking that Mr Blair should have rebuffed Bush 43 rather than plan to keep him out of power. The Labour Party will have a fit, they will see Mr Blair being more concerned about Bush 43 than the election prospects of Labour. In other words it is no great surprise that Tony Blair will be in the US for the launch of his book, every day he makes PM Eden look better before, during and after Suez.

BLOOD MONEY ? = Tony Blair Memoir

BBC News: Reports that former UK Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair it to give the profits from his memoirs to the Royal British Legion, for the care of injured Soldiers. Those that are critical of Blair and his taking of the UK in to Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will call this blood money, a way to remove the stain of blood on the Blair years in power. This blog does not see it that way, it’s a very generous act by the Mr Blair, it shows his concern for the Armed Forces, yes while PM he did send the Armed Forces in to Afghanistan and Iraq but at the time this policy was supported by the House of Commons. The left will NEVER, NEVER forgive Blair for Iraq, its his Suez, and he is Eden, but while Eden acted without the US, Mr Blair was a close ally of the Bush 43, Mr Blair did the right thing at the time, the consequences is a different matter, there one can have major problems with Mr Blair, the never ending war in Afghanistan, the major role for the UK after 2006 in Afghanistan and the raise in the death toll of UK Armed Forces. In Iraq not enough troops or Air transport after the invasion, thus most UK Forces died after the War. Also the fact that the Mr Blair didn’t finish the War in Iraq, left that to his successor Gordon Brown. At end of the day the UK was thrown out of Iraq for the second time, one can fault Mr Blair for the consequences of his Wars, not the Wars themselves. Thus not blood money but a nice act of a Statesman, also great spin by a great politician.

the MAN the BOOK - Tony Blair

Guardian: Reports on the publication day for the memoir of ex Labour PM Tony Blair, those opposed to the Iraq War have stated that they will make their presence felt at the launch. This blog in many respects has a very contradictory view of Tony Blair, as a pure politician he is up there with Lady Thatcher, on Foreign Policy he is equal with PM Eden during Suez, there is no doubt that Mr Blair is charming, in his day could connect with the UK voter, but then we come to Iraq, this blog supported the Iraq War before and during, its afterward and the failure in Basra that this blog lost confidence in Mr Blair. Also of late there have been reports that UK subjects or individuals with UK rights fell in to American hands and faced torture, as stated when it comes to UK subjects or interests this blog defends the rights of UK subjects and connection up to a point, the point is that they have to be found to be guilty of some crime otherwise any charges of torture have to be investigated with the full power of the law, as stated this blog is very contradictory view of Tony Blair and his time in power.

Brown A BIG LOSER!

Telegraph: Reports on a new league ranking of post war prime ministers by the FT, poor Gordon Brown is down with PM Eden the PM behind the Suez debacle, while Tony Blair is up there with Lady Thatcher. Lets recall PM Gordon Brown was the shortest serving Labour PM ever, he spent ten years trying to push Tony Blair out of 10 Downing Street, and once he got there he had to defend himself from getting the chop by various Cabinet Ministers. The near banking collapse was founded on the fact that Gordon Brown ran a lose regulation ship as Chancellor of the Exchequer, thus the banks acted as if in the US wild west, thus they needed to be bailed out by the UK tax payer, thus the present debts of the UK Government and the need for public spending cuts, YES Gordon Brown was the worse UK PM after World War Two, that is some feet folks.

Here Gone tomorrow Politician!

Alastair Campbell Blog: AC is defending Tony Blair again over his visit to Kosovo, the master spin is has his back up over the lack of UK press interest in the visit by ex PM Blair to Kosovo, Mr Campbell writes the following sarcastic remark, “ Tony, you know that Iraq is the only country you had anything to do with ”. Yes to give Mr Blair his due he was part of the solution to the Northern Ireland troubles and saved the people of Kosovo, but at the end of the day he was another Eden, the UK has been thrown out of Iraq for a second time, the War in Afghanistan is not going well, the economy left by Labour is in the toilet. Its about time AC saw that in many respects he was part of the problem for Mr Blair. It can be postulated that in the future when you think of Mr Blair you will think of Iraq and the post failure planning after the War. Also Mr Blair left the UK with Gordon Brown, that was beyond the pale.

Tony Blair and Iraq

Guardian: Reports how the then UK PM Tony Blair came close to throwing in the towel in the first few months after the Iraq War. In the end Tony Blair came through his black dog days as Winston Churchill once called his dark mood days, the real negative of the Iraq War for Tony Blair is not the War itself; this blogger supporter the War; its what came afterwards, the collapse of civic order in Iraq and the resulting deaths, it took in till 2007 to get Iraq back on its feet, its those deaths that are on the hands of Tony Blair and Bush 43. Even Bush 43 saw the light and placed a massive surge in Iraq, this turned the nightmare of Iraq around but by then Tony Blair was out, to be replaced by Gordon Brown. Thus Tony Blair will be judged by history on his action in Iraq and his allowing Gordon Brown to be his successor, this makes Eden look good after Suez.

Mistakes in Process if not the Result - Blair on Iraq

The Times: Reports that former UK PM Tony Blair will admit mistakes in the lead up to the War in Iraq if not the result. This blogger supported the Iraq War, this was due in part to the presentation of the Tony Blair and the UK Government that Iraq was a threat to the UK and its military bases. But to be honest by 2003 it can be argued that Iraq was winning the PR war, the sanctions had a negative impression on voters, also the RAF in the No Fly Zones had to take constant flak from Iraq. The UK was lucky not to lose any brave pilots due to these missions. In 2003 it was now or never to finish the threat of Iraq and thus against public opinion this blogger supported the War. If one discounts the intelligence information that was false when it comes to Iraq; all powers believed that Iraq was a threat; its the after War planning that really lets Tony Blair down, the UK won the war but lost the peace, at the end of the day the UK was forced out of Iraq, not by the terrorists but the Iraqi Government and the USA, the UK was seen as weak, it wanted to make deals and not fight, the USA at the end of the day found the UK a hindrance to its operations. The post war planning is the real trial of Tony Blair.

Iraq War - Illegal

BBC News: Reports on the legal opinion of the top Foreign Office lawyer Sir Michael Wood, Sir Michael has stated that he thought the War was illegal as it didn't have that all important second UN resolution. Thus as stated the Iraq Inquiry has seen the civil service place the blame for the War at the door of the then PM Tony Blair. As the UK was pushed out of Iraq, the war has been seen as a failure on both the military and diplomatic side, thus someone has to carry the can, well since Tony Blair is out of office, it seems that he is being set up as the new Eden, Iraq is Suez. The Establishment needs someone to take the fall and its down to Blair to be the political victim.

The Game of Iran

RCP: Interesting article on an academic role playing on how to deal with Iran next year, Iran wins of course as a result. I think from reading the article that the players missed one sore point, if Israel was to hit Iran Obama could not do a Suez of 1956, when the Ike was critical of UK and French action in Egypt, the Israeli lobby is powerful on the Hill, also there are the Obama poll ratings, guess witch side the US voter would support, Iran or Israel, yes you got it folks, Israel. Thus Obama would have to come out and support the move and warn Iran that should they take action then the USA would support Israel. If Obama was slow the Congress would demand that he takes action, lets recall its the Mid Term Congressional Elections next year in the USA, who in the Hill wants to be in the bad books of the Israeli Lobby. As an old Democratic politician used to say, all politics is local, and Obama might have the Nobel Peace Prize but Israel might have the votes on the Hill and the will to attack Iran.