Does Bliar have a cunning plan?
Here’s a strange contradiction which shows in perfect relief the difference between the US and UK government's attitude when it comes to the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).
Yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union obtained a memo written in September 2003 by General Ricardo Sanchez which outlined what he viewed to be acceptable interrogation techniques for use in Iraqi prisons. Twelve of the twenty nine methods went beyond the official US army manual and also seem to breech the Geneva Convention. The memo has the potential to be hugely damaging to both the military and the government, yet the Pentagon released it because it had an obligation to do so.
Contrast that with Tony Bliar’s continuing refusal to release the Attorney General’s legal advice given prior to the invasion. This decision is currently being reviewed but does anyone seriously think the advice will be released in its entirety? Thought not. The funny thing is, and I’ve stated this before, that the legal advice will actually help Tony if it is as clear and unambiguous as we’re led to believe. Channel 4 News, The Independent and all the other doubting Tommys will have to shut up and apologise for doubting the word of our wise PM. So why the reticence?
I’m beginning to suspect it may be part of a larger plan. There seems little doubt that a General Election will be called on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Imagine if, in the middle of the campaign with things going badly, with trust and honesty becoming a major issue, the legal advice were suddenly published and it did indeed prove that Bliar was Blair, that there was no deception? The campaign changes course. Blair begins to set the agenda again. (Bush pulled a similar stunt with the sudden appearance of a ‘Bin Laden’ video when things were going badly for him.) It would throw the anti Tony brigade onto the defensive. Those apologies would have to be made. Tony Blair looks whiter than white, a veritable beacon of truth and honesty. He’s re-elected and all is well. Britain becomes an endless summer of love and happiness. I’m declared a dangerous prophet and persecuted. It might just happen.
Yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union obtained a memo written in September 2003 by General Ricardo Sanchez which outlined what he viewed to be acceptable interrogation techniques for use in Iraqi prisons. Twelve of the twenty nine methods went beyond the official US army manual and also seem to breech the Geneva Convention. The memo has the potential to be hugely damaging to both the military and the government, yet the Pentagon released it because it had an obligation to do so.
Contrast that with Tony Bliar’s continuing refusal to release the Attorney General’s legal advice given prior to the invasion. This decision is currently being reviewed but does anyone seriously think the advice will be released in its entirety? Thought not. The funny thing is, and I’ve stated this before, that the legal advice will actually help Tony if it is as clear and unambiguous as we’re led to believe. Channel 4 News, The Independent and all the other doubting Tommys will have to shut up and apologise for doubting the word of our wise PM. So why the reticence?
I’m beginning to suspect it may be part of a larger plan. There seems little doubt that a General Election will be called on Monday or Tuesday of next week. Imagine if, in the middle of the campaign with things going badly, with trust and honesty becoming a major issue, the legal advice were suddenly published and it did indeed prove that Bliar was Blair, that there was no deception? The campaign changes course. Blair begins to set the agenda again. (Bush pulled a similar stunt with the sudden appearance of a ‘Bin Laden’ video when things were going badly for him.) It would throw the anti Tony brigade onto the defensive. Those apologies would have to be made. Tony Blair looks whiter than white, a veritable beacon of truth and honesty. He’s re-elected and all is well. Britain becomes an endless summer of love and happiness. I’m declared a dangerous prophet and persecuted. It might just happen.
posted by phylos @ 12:53
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