Geoff Hoon, silent assassin
David Blackburn 5:30pm
And so it came to pass that nothing came to pass. Geoff Hoon gave evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry on the same day as a convention of anaesthetists visited the QE Conference Centre. Perhaps their presence contributed to the somnolent proceedings.
Beneath the apparent narcolepsy, Hoon made two important points. First, he was convinced that the intelligence contained in the two dossiers established the threat of WMD “beyond doubt”, which will assist Blair when he gives evidence, especially after Alastair Campbell’s recent ‘clarification’. However, Hoon claims that the 45-minute claim was the only piece of evidence that he had not seen prior to publication, adding that he was on ministerial business in Kiev at the time; though I doubt that will trouble Blair – other ministers did see it.
Second, Hoon, speaking with characteristic understatement, laid bare Brown’s consistent refusal to fund military action sufficiently. Hoon was careful not to name Brown, and he was clear that shortages in no way affected frontline units, but the intention was clear. There were body armour shortages and equipment maintenance problems in Iraq, and Sir Laurence Freeman pursued that line of questioning. Hoon answered that the brunt of cuts fell on other units and blamed the Treasury for reneging on the 2002 settlement for future planning, which lead to "some rather difficult decisions" about future equipment - decisions concerning helicopters, armoured vehicles and body armour that beset British troops in Helmand currently.
We have known all this for some time, but repetition never harms - unless of course you were the Chancellor who took those decisions. Brown called this ludicrous inquiry to relieve his domestic political worries; yet the hapless man is the only figure to have drawn any fire. What delicious irony.
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2trueblue
January 19th, 2010 6:17pm Report this commentWhat will we learn form any of them? The inquiry has been a farce. The questioning questionable and lightweight. What a total waste of time and money. Nothiing will change.
David Kelly died and what did we learn from that inquiey? Nothing, a total whitewash. Really disappointing. But then Liebore men are sticking together on this one........
They are all very polished, quick, and together.......
Oh to be rid of them. What will the shiny new ones be like?
Ghengis
January 19th, 2010 7:14pm Report this commentThank God Brown and his supporters were not around during WW2.
David Ossitt
January 19th, 2010 7:21pm Report this commentPerhaps their presence contributed to the somnolent proceedings.
I once attended a dinner to mark India’s independence; at the Civic Hall Leeds.
Those attending were the cream of the Yorkshire Indian community; with a goodly scattering of guests.
His nibs; Geoff Hoon was the main speaker, somnolence was all about us.
mitch
January 19th, 2010 7:30pm Report this commentThey have had years to get their stories straight and pick the fall guys.
Nothing will happen and no one will be found at fault. Triple whitewashes all round chairman.......and to think we were such a proud country long ago.
JohnAnt
January 19th, 2010 7:46pm Report this comment'Silent Assassin?' Don't assassins, er, assassinate? He hasn't quite done that, has he. And if Geoff Hoon is silent, it's only because he has absolutely nothing to say.
He might bore somebody to death, I suppose. But not Brown, surely - he'd just bore back.
Beer Moth
January 19th, 2010 9:32pm Report this comment"Top of Debenhams? Good position. That's where I'd be. You wouldn't hear a thing"
Frank Leader
January 20th, 2010 9:47am Report this commentIs there any truth in the rumour that Whitewash is in short supply for DIY enthusiasts?
Chris lancashire
January 20th, 2010 1:05pm Report this commentExcellent Ann Trenneman sketch in today's Times on this mediocre nonentity. A man who was, apparently, Minister of Defence for six years - and noone noticed. Ms Trenneman does it far better than me, do read her.
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