War in Iraq
"From the moment US forces entered Baghdad a year ago, the occupation has been characerised by hubris, misjudgments, political tone-deafness, parsimony, miscalculation and inconsistency."(Gerard Baker, a supporter of the war, in the FT, 6/05/04)
"No one really seems to understand which laws apply any more - and many from the top down do not seem to care. No wonder that when confronted with the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive strikes (which by definition avoids legal procedures), recklessly macho presidential rhetoric ("dead or alive", "bring it on", "evil-doers"), the singular pursuit of intelligence-gathering (even by the US Justice Department), scant deference to laws of war and open disdain for "law enforcement", illegal conduct begins to appear acceptable to commander and soldier alike."
David Scheffer (The writer is visiting professor of international law at Georgetown University Law Center and former US ambassador at large for war crimes issues (1997-2001))
What's amazing is, as far as I am aware, not a single member of the British government or the US Administration has resigned because of the errors made.
This really should be a an opportunity for the Conservatives. There is no shame in noting that they supported the war under a different leader, and because they believe in supporting the PM over matters of the national interest, and now attacking the government for the shambles of the occupation. The reason they don't is I imagine because of the malign tendency of Nicholas Soames, who on the Littlejohn show on Tuesday seemed literally unable to comprehend the British Army acting in any way other than perfect. If I'm right then all is not lost -- Howard and Letwin overruled him on defence spending, they should overrrule him again.
posted by Matthew @ 5/06/2004 09:15:00 AM
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