14 June 2005

Downing Street Memo, the Sequel

Have I slipped into some cross-dimensional wormhole?

Chicken Yoghurt gives some attention to a largely ignored leaked memo from Downing Street, and highlights the scariest excerpts of the transcription by the Sunday Times. While this is no joking matter, and provides further evidence of Tony Blair's duplicity, the whole sordid affair could almost be fictional. (See Terry Pratchett's Jingo for a prime example of leaders taking their people to war on false premises as a diversionary tactic to keep themselves in power. D'ya think the govt reads his books for inspiration?)

The excerpt that makes me quake in my boots:

14. It is just possible that an ultimatum could be cast in terms which Saddam would reject (because he is unwilling to accept unfettered access) and which would not be regarded as unreasonable by the international community. However, failing that (or an Iraqi attack) we would be most unlikely to achieve a legal base for military action by January 2003.

Conspiracy theory? Heck, there's even a website for it.

4 comments:

Anthony said...

When I saw this fearsome piece of technology before the war, I knew the gig was up.

akatsukira said...

Thanks for the link. Can't stop laughing.

My favourite bit:
US officials say that UN weapons chief Hans Blix buried information about the drone - and Iraqi discrepancies - in a 173-page list of unresolved weapons that he presented to the Security Council March 6.

The current US govt doesn't really like the UN, does it?

Anthony said...

If it danced its merry tune it would.

My first feeling about the WMD was that by invading he'd be more likey to use them. The I felt that if he did have any in significant amounts, they wouldn't be invading. Then when crap like the "drone of doom" and the "trucks that moved" came out as evidence, I guessed then that the UN Weapons Inspectors weren't going to be allowed to finish their job.

Next week, food blogger opposes war because he suspects ham fisted occupation.

akatsukira said...

Now now, no need to get yourself into a stew about it.