The Leader

Bloody ridiculous

14 June 2003

Any day now, you can expect Downing Street to announce that there will be a public inquiry into the Third Crusade. Did Richard the Lionheart exaggerate the threat posed by Saladin? Was unreasonable force used at Acre, and what benefit was there to England in any case, when Richard's time could have been better spent attending to outbreaks of scrofula at home?

It may seem far-fetched, but an inquiry into the crusades is slightly more likely than Tony Blair announcing a public inquiry into the publication of the 'dodgy dossier' which foreshadowed the House of Commons' vote on war in Iraq. During his six years in office, the Prime Minister has perfected the use of the public inquiry as a political tool. When it comes to dubious events which have occurred during his own premiership, an inquiry is something to be strongly resisted as a waste of valuable time and money. When it comes to scandals which have occurred under previous administrations, on the other hand, no effort is to be spared in the quest for truth.

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Josephine Clunde

January 21st, 2009 12:43pm Report this comment

The point about how there has been so many people murdered in cold blood within Ireland and the need for an inquiry in this one particular instance due to Blair's own wish to discredit the previous government is quite outrageous. I am far from being a fan of Tony Blair however it must be said that this inquiry is well needed to establish the truth behind what happened to to stop the ignornant view that the civil rights protest was of violence on the side of the Republicans.
It was the cold blooded murder by those who were there to protect the people of northern Ireland. Fair enough to say from eachother most of the time, but within this instance the 'protectors' became the aggressors. Although the British armed forces have killed many of the eye witnnesses there are still many alive to report on what they saw that horible day.
Moreover, there are many other calls for public inquiries into the suscisous murders within N.Ireland which were not as obvious as the British Forces opening fire on a peaceful protest. Like that of human rights lawyers and people 'dangerous' to the peace process. The history of the British Armed Forces has much to be desired, including the car bombings in Dublin and Monaghan which were claimed by the UVF but there was evidence to suggest that British Forces were involved and the government refused to release files concerning the bombings.
I understand why one may say that Blair acted for his own benefit, that is proably true, however is does not take away from the advantage of having such an inquiry and more of a similar sort.

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