Pusillanimous

[poliphilo]

The more we hear from the Chilcot enquiry the more it becomes clear that almost everyone in government- apart from Tony Blair and his courtiers- thought the invasion of Iraq would be a bad thing. Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller- who was head of MI5 at the time- knew that the war would radicalise young British Muslims and increase the likelihood of domestic terrorism. For some reason she kept quiet about it- and (apparently) failed to mention her reservations to Blair.

Everyone was going "please, no" about Iraq, but no-one who counted was expressing their doubts to the man in charge. There's only one possible explanation for this. They were too afraid.

Afraid of what? That Alastair Campbell would shout at them? That they might be moved sideways? That their advancemant would be blocked? It's not as if they risked being sent to the Tower- or the block. What a pusillanimous lot they are.

Something very similar happened with the elevation of Gordon Brown to the premiership. Everyone in and around government (apart from Brown's little squad of goons and hatchet men) knew he was fatally unsuited to the job, but no-one seriously opposed him. In this instance the ranks of the pusillanimous included Blair himself- who should have sacked his chancellor at the first sign of disloyalty- but kept staying his hand. Again, what were they all so frightened of? That Brown would throw a monumental sulk? But he was doing that anyway.

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think the UK government was afraid of the US, Israel and the rest of the war industry. I half-suspect BP of being involved, too. I also think we shall never get to the bottom of it, because Obama lacks either the political will or the personal will for some sort of legitimate "truth and reconciliation" proceedings in this country.

I think this is why the actions of your government critters make no sense, even in retrospect. It's not like they can go before a camera and admit that Bush and his bully boys were threatening to beat them up and take their lunch money. They would look even weaker and more useless than usual.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think the responsibility for Britain's involvement in the war sits firmly on Tony Blair's shoulders. He gave George Bush an undertaking to support him no matter what- at a very early stage and without first consulting all the people he should have consulted. There was no necessity for Britain to get involved. A less Messianic leader might have chosen to sit it out and cheer (or make clucking noises) from the sidelines .

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I feel that I understand Bush, and I understand the US's reasons for the war, but Blair's assent and involvement is a mystery to me. Why do you think he did it?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

He's a vain, shallow man who knows very little history and loves to snuggle up to the powerful. He wanted to go down to posterity as a combination of Richard the Lionheart and Lawrence of Arabia (with a side order of St Joan) and it tickled him to be George Bush's best friend.