dreamdancer 0 #1 January 21, 2011 a very guilty man... QuoteIn written evidence submitted ahead of his second appearance before the inquiry, the former prime minister was asked about secret messages he sent to Mr Bush in the build-up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. It emerged this week that the head of the civil service, Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell, refused requests for extracts from the notes to be released after consulting with the ex-premier. Sir John said he was "disappointed" after being blocked from disclosing the contents of the talks. He said the question of when and how Mr Blair made commitments to the US about Britain's involvement in military action against Iraq was "central" to his panel's considerations. Mr Blair's statement said: "The notes to president Bush were very private. "They were written when I wished to get a change or adjustment to policy. "They had to be confidential. The personal relationship was a vital part of the country's strategic relationship." Mr Blair said the notes were "not circulated to Cabinet colleagues" but their content was "essentially in line with my expressed views". Correspondence between the two leaders in the run-up to the Iraq war will remain classified, along with notes of a meeting at which the then-prime minister is said to have “signed in blood” an agreement to send British troops to topple Saddam Hussein. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/tony-blair/8273507/Iraq-inquiry-Tony-Blair-tells-Sir-John-Chilcot-that-notes-to-George-Bush-were-very-private.htmlstay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nigel99 619 #2 January 21, 2011 I wonder if they were along the lines of "Hey George I am out of idea's at the moment. Could you consult the voices in your head and give me some guidance"Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #3 January 21, 2011 Confidentiality of communications is often crucial to the conduct of diplomacy and international relations. To think otherwise is naive. Over time, though, the situational need for confidentiality dissipates; and eventually the communication should pass into publicly-accessible history. When that should occur often is best determined on a case by case basis. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HandsomeSalad 0 #4 January 21, 2011 QuoteConfidentiality of communications is often crucial to the conduct of diplomacy and international relations. To think otherwise is naive. Over time, though, the situational need for confidentiality dissipates; and eventually the communication should pass into publicly-accessible history. When that should occur often is best determined on a case by case basis. Preferably while all participants are still alive and have a significant amount of their life left to live so that it can be cut short at the Hague with a rope. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #5 January 21, 2011 Quote They were written when I wished to get a change or adjustment to policy. "They had to be confidential. The personal relationship was a vital part of the country's strategic relationship." The 'Special Relationship' is long dead, it died when Maggie and Ronnie left office. I doubt Tony Blair had any influence over US foreign policy at all, to think otherwise is simply Blair indulging in his own vanity. The UK means nothing to the USA, Blair was simply Bush's poodle.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamdancer 0 #6 January 23, 2011 he's a warmongering c**t who i sincerely hope will live long enough to spend the rest of his life in a cell. QuoteBlair concluded by giving an impassioned warning about the threat from Iran: a threat, he said, that would have been compounded had Saddam survived. Hostile murmurs in the hearing room met his warning that the west should end its "wretched posture of apology" towards Iran and, if necessary, use force to deal with the Tehran regime. He called on western countries to deal with the "negative, destabilising" influence of Iran with its support for terrorism and its nuclear programme. "This is a looming and coming challenge," he said. "This is not because we have done something. At some point – and I say this to you with all the passion I possibly can – the west has got to get out of this wretched posture of apology for believing that we are responsible for what the Iranians are doing, or what these extremists are doing. "We are not ... they are doing it because they disagree fundamentally with our way of life and they will carry on doing it unless they are met by the requisite determination and, if necessary, force." http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jan/21/tony-blair-george-bush-iraqstay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #7 January 23, 2011 Quotehe's a warmongering c**t who i sincerely hope will live long enough to spend the rest of his life in a cell. QuoteBlair concluded by giving an impassioned warning about the threat from Iran: a threat, he said, that would have been compounded had Saddam survived. Hostile murmurs in the hearing room met his warning that the west should end its "wretched posture of apology" towards Iran and, if necessary, use force to deal with the Tehran regime. He called on western countries to deal with the "negative, destabilising" influence of Iran with its support for terrorism and its nuclear programme. "This is a looming and coming challenge," he said. "This is not because we have done something. At some point – and I say this to you with all the passion I possibly can – the west has got to get out of this wretched posture of apology for believing that we are responsible for what the Iranians are doing, or what these extremists are doing. "We are not ... they are doing it because they disagree fundamentally with our way of life and they will carry on doing it unless they are met by the requisite determination and, if necessary, force." http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jan/21/tony-blair-george-bush-iraq Do you get these "wonderful" insights before or after prayers on Friday??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,150 #8 January 24, 2011 Quotehe's a warmongering c**t who i sincerely hope will live long enough to spend the rest of his life in a cell. You''ll give c**ts a bad name with posts like that.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamdancer 0 #9 January 24, 2011 hey amazon where you been? - nice to have you back stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #10 January 24, 2011 Quote hey amazon where you been? - nice to have you back We all noticed you didn't answer her question. Scared to answer her too huh, sad really.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreamdancer 0 #11 January 25, 2011 Quote Quote hey amazon where you been? - nice to have you back We all noticed you didn't answer her question. Scared to answer her too huh, sad really. that wasn't a question it was a rhetorical accusation along the lines of 'when did you stop beating your wife'? (she is good at it and i like it when she's on my side)stay away from moving propellers - they bite blue skies from thai sky adventures good solid response-provoking keyboarding Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 62 #12 January 25, 2011 Quote The 'Special Relationship' is long dead, it died when Maggie and Ronnie left office. I doubt Tony Blair had any influence over US foreign policy at all, to think otherwise is simply Blair indulging in his own vanity. The UK means nothing to the USA, Blair was simply Bush's poodle. In his book Decision Points, President Bush writes that his relationship Prime Minister Blair was strong and equal. Your post seems to indicate that Bush was more powerful than he actually was.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #13 January 25, 2011 QuoteQuote The 'Special Relationship' is long dead, it died when Maggie and Ronnie left office. I doubt Tony Blair had any influence over US foreign policy at all, to think otherwise is simply Blair indulging in his own vanity. The UK means nothing to the USA, Blair was simply Bush's poodle. In his book Decision Points, President Bush writes that his relationship Prime Minister Blair was strong and equal. Personally, I simply do not believe that to have been the case. (I say that not as a partisan, but from my "other hat" as a political scientist/historian.) QuoteYour post seems to indicate that Bush was more powerful than he actually was. No, it indicates, and I think history will eventually bear this out, that Blair was considerably less powerful than he claims to have been. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #14 January 26, 2011 QuoteQuote The 'Special Relationship' is long dead, it died when Maggie and Ronnie left office. I doubt Tony Blair had any influence over US foreign policy at all, to think otherwise is simply Blair indulging in his own vanity. The UK means nothing to the USA, Blair was simply Bush's poodle. In his book Decision Points, President Bush writes that his relationship Prime Minister Blair was strong and equal. Your post seems to indicate that Bush was more powerful than he actually was. Ron are you actually telling me in all honesty that you believe that there was an equal relationship of power between the POTUS and the UK Prime Minister? Besides, what else is GW going to say? ' That goofy little Brit was my bitch?'When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 62 #15 January 26, 2011 Quote Quote Quote The 'Special Relationship' is long dead, it died when Maggie and Ronnie left office. I doubt Tony Blair had any influence over US foreign policy at all, to think otherwise is simply Blair indulging in his own vanity. The UK means nothing to the USA, Blair was simply Bush's poodle. In his book Decision Points, President Bush writes that his relationship Prime Minister Blair was strong and equal. Your post seems to indicate that Bush was more powerful than he actually was. Ron are you actually telling me in all honesty that you believe that there was an equal relationship of power between the POTUS and the UK Prime Minister? Besides, what else is GW going to say? ' That goofy little Brit was my bitch?' I was not evaluating the relationship on the basis of the amount of power each brought to the table. My impression from Bush's book was that he considered Blair as a personal friend, kindred spirit and foreign policy ally. Bush was candid about his contacts and relationships with heads of state. He stated his preferences, his disappointments and, his frustrations. His comments about Blair were all positive. I gather you are as fond of Blair as I am of Obama.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #16 January 27, 2011 Quote he considered Blair as a personal friend, kindred spirit and foreign policy ally. That I do believe, however Tony is saying that he was a influence over GW and as such exerted influence which I don't believe he had. I'm not happy with what Tony did with sending our troops to war on a lie, against all advice (including legal advice) to the contrary. That said he wasn't a total disaster as a PM foreign policy aside. He let his ego lead his better judgement and a lot of people died as a result.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RonD1120 62 #17 January 27, 2011 QuoteQuote he considered Blair as a personal friend, kindred spirit and foreign policy ally. That I do believe, however Tony is saying that he was a influence over GW and as such exerted influence which I don't believe he had. I'm not happy with what Tony did with sending our troops to war on a lie, against all advice (including legal advice) to the contrary. That said he wasn't a total disaster as a PM foreign policy aside. He let his ego lead his better judgement and a lot of people died as a result. In Decision Points, Bush states that intelligence available, both from the Clinton administration and current, indicated that Saddam Hussein had WMD. He expected evidence would confirm the intelligence. So far that has not been the case. That being said, Lyndon Johnson did the same thing to my generation with Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident was a lie. As the saying goes, "Ours is not to question why. Ours is but to do and die." I gather some of Great Britain's losses were personal and I offer my condolences for your sorrow. We mourn their fate but we also celebrate their lives and our times as comrades. Have a good day. I am riding out to provide motorcycle escort and stand in the flag line for a deceased veteran from the Vietnam era.Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Decodiver 0 #18 January 27, 2011 Tony Blair is a liar and an arrogant cheat. He'll soon be forgotten. That will be the best punishment, though I do like the idea of him rotting in a cell somewhere being someone else's bitch this time....................................... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #19 January 27, 2011 Cheers Ron, I hope you have good weather. Its a good thing you're doing today.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
