The Iraqi who lied about WMD
February 16th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
“The defector who convinced the White House that Iraq had a secret biological weapons programme has admitted for the first time that he lied about his story, then watched in shock as it was used to justify the war.
Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, codenamed Curveball by German and American intelligence officials who dealt with his claims, has told the Guardian that he fabricated tales of mobile bioweapons trucks and clandestine factories in an attempt to bring down the Saddam Hussein regime, from which he had fled in 1995.”
This is the opening of an exclusive in today’s “Guardian” which explains how Western intelligence agencies and their political bosses convinced themselves that one man’s uncorroborated testimony was a sufficient basis for invading Iraq. They wanted to believe the ‘evidence’ and so they did believe it in a huge act of ‘groupthink’.
Of course, the one man who knew beyond doubt that there were no weapons of mass destruction was Saddam Hussein. When US and UK forces massed on his border and it was clear that his regime was about to be overthrown, why did he not announced and implement full compliance with the UN weapons inspectors and therefore remove the basis for invasion?
This has always perplexed me. I can only assume that, since almost everyone (including his Arab neighbours) assumed he did possess WMD, he was constrained by his pride against revealing that he was much less powerful than he pretended.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)
Baby Catrin: progress report (3)
February 15th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Vee and I had a lovely time on Sunday when Richard & Emily came over with their baby Catrin. They gave us a hinged double frame – one side had a photograph of Catrin and the other had a plaster mould of her foot print and hand print. The five of us went for a delicious lunch at a local tea house called “The Doll’s House On The Hill”.
I changed my second nappy. One more and I think I get my proficiency certificate. The training is for my babysitting on Thursday evening so that Rich & Emily can have a little time together over a romantic dinner just after Valentine’s Day.
Meanwhile Catrin is four weeks old and I know I’m biased but I think that this latest photograph shows her at her most gorgeous yet.
One month old now
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (9)
What exactly is the Big Society?
February 14th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
American leaders think big. Franklin D Roosevelt had the New Deal, while Lydon B Johnson had the Great Society – both of which changed the face of America. British politicians are not quite in the same league. Tony Blair had The Third Way (whatever happened to that?), while David Cameron struggles to advance the Big Society with his statement today.
But what exactly is the Big Society?
According to Brian Wheeler on the BBC web site:
“It is a “coral reef” and we are the fishes. It is the hidden hand behind all government action. It is everywhere and nowhere at once.”
“There is still confusion among civil servants about what the big society actually means – despite an on-going series of seminars across Whitehall to explain it.”
According to Jackie Ashley in her column:
“In one sense, the big society is an idea so vague almost nobody could be against it. If it means that many of us should be doing more for our neighbourhood and for society in general, then it is something every faith group and political party would applaud.
If it means we shouldn’t worry about local government cuts because volunteers will pick up the pieces – and that it’s the “answer” to Labour statism, it gets a big raspberry all round.”
And Will Straw on the blog LeftFootForward offers five reasons why you can’t trust Cameron’s version of the idea.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
“And the winner is …” (1)
February 14th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
As a massive movie fan, I spent a happy couple of hours last night watching the BBC coverage of this year’s British Academy film awards. You can see the full list of BAFTA nominations and winners here.
I’m pleased to say that I’ve seen – and thoroughly enjoyed – the films that took the majority of the awards:
- “The King’s Speech” which won seven awards – my review here.
- “The Social Network” which won three awards – my review here.
- “Inception” which won three awards – my review here.
- “Black Swan” which won one award – my review here.
- “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” which won one award – my review here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (1)
Tony Blair’s “A Journey” (4)
February 12th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I continue to read “A Journey” by Tony Blair. Of course, the most memorable feature of his premiership was Britain joining with the United States in the invasion of Iraq. Blair devotes over 100 pages of the 700-page volume to the Iraq war. There are no new facts or revelations because there was no cover-up or conspiracy, but he does explain at length his thinking and motivations.
There can be no doubt that Iraq was in breach of United Nations Security Council resolutions and Blair lists nine with which the regime was in non-compliance. Whether there was UN authority to invade is highly debatable legally but Blair makes his case. Whether there were weapons of mass destruction (WMD) was widely debated but mostly assumed to be the case.
He records: “We the key allies had no doubt that Saddam had an active WMD programme” but concedes that: “The intelligence on Saddam and WMD turned out to be incorrect. It is said – even I have said – that how this came to be so remains a mystery.” Somewhat at odds with the ‘mystery’ remark, he adds: “The intelligence was wrong. We admitted it. We apologised for it. We explained it even.”
He writes: “The military campaign of conquest was a brilliant success. The civilian campaign of reconstruction wasn’t” and concedes: “That the planning for the aftermath was inadequate is well-documented”.
He writes: “So the aftermath was more bloody, more awful, more terrifying than anyone could have imagined. The perils we anticipated [use of WMD] did not materialise. The peril we didn’t [the insurgency] materialised with a ferocity and evil that even now shocks the senses.”
He insists: “I can’t regret the decision to go to war” but adds: “I can say that never did I guess the nightmare than unfolded” and “The truth is we did not anticipate the role of al-Qaeda or Iran”. He concludes: “All I know is that I did what I thought was right. I stood by America when it needed standing by. Together we rid the world of a tyrant. Together we fought to uphold the Iraqis’ right to a democratic government.”
Although British involvement in the invasion of Iraq is overwhelmingly associated with Blair as an individual, “A Journey” reminds that the decision was debated in the House of Commons and approved by 412 votes to 149.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (1)
AV or not AV? That is the question
February 11th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
In the British House of Commons, there are 650 members elected by the ‘first past the post’ system. How many do you think obtain more than 50% of the votes cast? Well, the answer is only 270.
If we change the voting system to the alternative vote (AV), every Member of Parliament will need at least 50% of the votes cast and every candidate will have an interest in appealling to every elector.
The referendum on possible introduction of AV will – subject to the passage of the necessary legislation in the next few days – take place on 5 May. Today the “Guardian” has an article reviewing the current state of the campaigns for and against change.
As I did in the only other UK referendum in which I’ve voted – membership of the European Union in 1975 – I’ll be voting ‘Yes’.
For info on the Yes campaign, go here.
For info on the No campaign, go here.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (1)
Baby Catrin: progress report (2)
February 10th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
It’s Day 25 in the young life of my beautiful granddaughter Catrin and I saw her for the fifth time today. Her mum Emily had to attend a Board meeting so her dad Richard looked after her in a nearby cafe.
After my Consumer Focus Board meeting, I took a taxi to the cafe and spent a happy hour and half with them. Catrin is now free of her milk spots and looking lovelier and more alert than ever. She particularly enjoyed sucking on my little finger, although she finds her mum’s offer more appetising.
Rich, Emily & Catrin will be coming over for lunch on Sunday and then, on Thursday, I’m going to a babysit while her parents have some time together over dinner out to celebrate (a little belatedly) Valentine’s Day.
Eyes wide shut
Eyes wide open
“Who is this man who keeps visiting me?”
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (8)
The largest empires in history
February 10th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I continue to enjoy my evening class in International Relations led by our lecturer Dr Dale Mineshima-Lowe. Last week, we looked at India and Pakistan and this week we discussed Russia.
We were told that the old Russian empire was the third largest in history. But: which was the first and which was the second? You can probably guess the first: the British Empire. But the second? It was the Mongol Empire of the late 13th century.
You can see a full list of historic empires ranked by geographical size here.
Posted in History | Comments (0)
Teaching evolution in American schools
February 9th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
In this fascinating blog posting, it is highlighted that:
- In the United States, only 28% of biology teachers consistently teach the principles of evolution as recommended by the US National Research Council
- Of 34 advanced nations, only Turkey has a lower proportion than the USA of people who reject the notion of evolution
An understanding of evolution is critical to an appreciation of all human and animal life on Earth and it is important that we all understand the case for evolution.
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)
Thinking of visiting India?
February 8th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
In 2003, we had a great trip to India, made particularly enjoyable by our wonderful guide Hamid Shah, We’ve kept in touch with Hamid and are delighted to hear that he has just formed his own travel company Indus India Travels.
So, if you ever think of visiting India (and it is a marvellous experience), contact Hamid. Tell him Roger sent you!
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (2)