Dodging Iraq

Michael Booth

Anger knows no bounds over this: Ed Miliband's main concern is the damage done 'to the Labour Party' - not country, not the families who have lost loved ones. This remark alone disqualifies him from ever holding high office again, surely. As for Ed Balls, he may not have been an MP at the time but he was thicker than thieves with the New Labour leadership, and by a man's friends do ye know him. Dreadful.

jon dee

Surely Balls must now be called by Chilcot as a witness, following his revealing comments.

He and others may find it too late to jump ship despite discovering sudden attacks of honesty.

AlanL

Well, fair enough.

They've both been very consistent and vocal in their criticism of the war. The two Eds have given countless speeches on this both before and after parliament. It was refreshing to see two politicians, in the mould of Robin Cook, prepared to speak out for what they believe at the time.

[or maybe not]

shorpe

These idiots should be avoiding talking about Iraq at all, even to distance themselves from it. For some miraculous reason, the general public, amnesiac as ever, largely seems to have forgotten the fiasco of 2003 - it hardly came up as an issue in the election - and I wouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth if I were them.

Rhoda Klapp

Perhaps a list of cabinet decisions of the last few years which they agree with and accept responsibility for would be easier. And shorter.

Nash

I look forward to Ed Balls et al stating that they were also against the increase in the structural deficit and against PFI for London Transport and for the issuance of LT Bonds as a superior way of financing the improvements needed in the transport infrastructure.

Boy that Gordon Brown must have been a real bully making all these grown men cower - when their consciences told them they should oppose his mad ideas!

George Laird

Dear All

I think that Brown’s Balls has made a slip of the tongue.

He says that the public were misled by "devices and tactics" over the case for war.

Why doesn’t some bright spark ask him to list the devices and tactics?

Let us see him squirm.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

strapworld

john dee makes a very important point. I do hope the Deputy Prime Minister requests Chilcott to call Balls.

But I am sure those parents and families of the armed service personnel killed in Iraq will be happy in the knowledge that, in the eyes of one of the marx brothers and the utter balls fellow, they should not have been there.

Valour comes in many guises, but the cowardice of these two shines out in brilliant technicolour.

Damn their eyes!

a j scott

Mr Campbell should be invited to comment at once, as well as Mr Blair, on this scandalous suggestion that the UK was dragged into this war by lies and re-drafting.

TomTom

Generals and politicians were tried at Nuremberg:

Principle VI states,

"The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:

(a) Crimes against peace:

(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;

(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).

Do any of these "refuseniks" believe Campbell, Blair, Brown and the General Staff should be tried in The Hague under Principle VI ?

TrevorsDen

Your last sentence is appropriate.

They hark back to 2003, when the issues now, militarily is Afghanistan and economically the deficit.

What have they to say about the deficit if they think we were misled about Iraq, then why did they not volunteer in formation to the enquiry?

From the nations perspective Ed Miliband has let himself down. He ought now to be gravely damaged - but for his electorate ...?

Right now, as a result of these remarks, I have to say there is no one in the running worthy of the job of PM

Nicholas

Yes, good point from George Laird - why don't our media boys ask Balls - what were those "devices and tactics"? And to what ends and for whom?

logdon

"If we knew then what we know now ... we wouldn't have gone in."

And as my Father was fond of saying, 'If your Aunt had balls, she'd be your Uncle'.

As it happens we did know then what we know now. Forty five minutes? It's just that these institutionalised liars lied then and are still lying now.

2trueblue

Dodging the truth.
Too late mate.
7yrs too late.

jon dee

For those interested in the contortions of the two Eds and big brother David over the Iraq War, a trip to, Iraq Inquiry Digest is well worth a visit.

As ever, Chris Ames is ahead of the field.

www.iraqinquirydigest.org/