PM (Blair) 'approved Kelly strategy'

[lanlady]

Tony Blair agreed the strategy that led to the eventual "outing" of David Kelly as Andrew Gilligan's source, the Ministry of Defence's top civil servant told the Hutton inquiry today.
Sir Kevin Tebbit, the MoD's permanent under-secretary, described how it was conveyed to him that the prime minister wanted "something done about this individual coming forward".

That individual was Dr Kelly, who admitted having spoken to Gilligan, the Today programme defence correspondent, whose report claiming that No 10 had "sexed up" the dossier on Iraq's weapons programme sparked the bitter battle between the government and the BBC.

Sir Kevin said: "I was told by Sir David Omand that the prime minister was following this very, very closely indeed ...

...more...

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/kelly/story/0,13747,1025886,00.html

[bluedeminredstate]

1. Yikes!!

Why is Tony's demise not being covered here? He's going down, no doubt about it now.

[lanlady]

3. I would love to see Blair get taken down--

--if it meant that Great Britain washed its hands of Gee Dubya and this whole sorry affair.

Blair is crazy, crazy, crazy to have sullied his legacy and world standing in this manner. I just don't understand the man.

[Spazito]

2. The only honorable thing for TB to do now is....

to resign and let his party choose a new leader in time for the next election. Sadly, I used to think he had honor but no more, he is, indeed, a sop for the Bush admin and nothing else.

[Briar]

4. There is no suggestion of

a threat to Blair. This is still being spun as the BBC being out of line and attacking the government. The fact that it has been proved that the BBC's stories were based on what Kelly told them is being ignored in favour of a portrait of Dr Kelly as being squeezed between two large organisations (the government and the BBC, with the BBC under more pressure than the government). The alternative view, that he was an individual torn between two opposing duties (to the government which employed him, which was playing fast and loose with facts about which he had personal knowledge, and to the truth) isn't getting an airing. Instead the media are conspiring with Campbell (whose brass faced performance yesterday had been coached and rehearsed by lawyers who visited him at his holiday location over the weekend, a little detail which isn't getting much coverage as the papers rush to praise him) to cover the Bliar backside.

[AP]

8. Consulting with your lawyer is cornerstone of the civil justice

system. I can't believe we're criticizing that. Campbell did well, eh? Talking about the lawyers sounds like sour grapes.

[hang a left]

10. It doesn't seem

like that to me. Lots of "not so good" information coming out of this inquiry. I think FiFi might just have to get his leash and take a walk.

[Fenris]

5. So when Britain has a Conservative government...

We can all thank Tony Blair.

(Ed. note: At this point in time, if the Conservatives did replace Labour and were hostile to Bush, I personally think idealogical differences would be overshadowed by a larger idea, that idea being of course fuck America.)

[AP]

7. Tories hostile to Bush?!?! Do you have mad cow?

Thatcher. Regan. Don't you remember? Tories and Bush fit hand in glove.

[Evil_Dewers]

13. Hand in glove...

AP: Nice transferal post after Fenris' Morrissey picture. And thanx for pointing out that the UK conservative MPs are Reagan/Bush fellators. Hell, most of 'em wanted to invade Eye-Rack before Blair got in bed with the Bush Family Evil Empire after they offered him a seat on the Board of Directors of the Carlyle Group. But heaven knows Blair is miserable now. Panic on the streets of London. Oh, sorry, that joke isn't funny anymore.

[Briar]

9. We have

a conservative government, if not in name.

[AP]

6. How this isn't news.

Did anyone think before that Blair didn't approve the Kelly deposition? Kelly was deposed. We all know that. Obviously, Blair approved of the plan. The government generally does not do things the PM does not approve of.

And did anyone think the deposition was wrong when it happened? No. At the time, Blair claimed that the media was misrepresenting the truth to score political points. The deposition meant to get at the bottom of the matter. At the time, I thought, 'Man, this is what Clinton should have been doing -- confront the media head on."

[scipan]

11. Blair approved of the plan to out Dr. Kelly

which means he must have approved of the means of outing him -- namely, the MoD assuring Dr. Kelly they'd keep his name a secret, then the press office giving hints as to his identity, while telling the press they would confirm if one of the press guessed right.

Immoral is the only way one can look at it. Obviously, they were playing with real people's reputations, honor, and in the end, lives.

[AP]

12. But we already know this, and nobody thought it was wrong until

after Kelly committed suicide. In fact, it seemed like a pretty good idea then.

Do you see how this isn't news, or even slightly dramatic. What would be dramatic, short of murder (which makes no sense, because Kelly gave exculpatory evidence, and you don't murder your exculpatory witnesses after they've given sworn statements in public) is if they KNEW he was suicidal before the whole thing started and did things designed to make him committ suicide before he gave testimony, and they though he was going to give inculpatory evidence. You see how convoluted that is? It doesn't even make that much sense.

[lanlady]

14. are you on a mission from God, AP,

to defend Tony Blair or something?

No one knew for a fact that Blair was in on the game to out Kelly. There were assumptions or guesses only due to Campbell's involvement. As a matter of fact, I recall Campbell denying a lot of stuff which later proved to be true.

For what it's worth, I think Blair's being blackmailed by the BFEE. It's the only way to explain his behavior over the past year.

[AP]

16. A little bit knee-jerk defense of any left of centre politician

and I know, you don't think he's left of center, but you don't know Britain -- they have a monarch, and a house of lords (who are the biggest bunches of savages you could ever see -- if someone walked into your house and started doing what the Queen and Lords do, which is basically nothing, and then asking you to pay for it (they need to pretend they have better manners, because they actually have the worst manners) there be some justified ass kicking going down) and a lot of other institutional bullshit that makes it hard for a liberal to get ahead, and Blair's done it.

But mostly, I have some first-hand, very personal experience with Labour, and I really have a strong sense that I understand what they're doing, which really drives me to call out people here who really have no idea what they're talking about.

I know it's like a fun game to most of you. You think anything with the taint of Bush on it deserves to be ridiculed. But there's a bigger picture, and I feel it's my duty to keep referring to it. Sorry if I'm spoiling the fun of the echo chamber. Actually, I'm not sorry. I'm saying what needs to be said.

[Spentastic]

23. You're talking tripe old son.

I'm not surprised that you have "first hand" experience of Labour. Once again I'd like to know exactly what your credentials are but I doubt you'd tell me. (fair enough it's only the net).

I guess you are looking at the situation from afar. I live here. I see day to day the "difference" that Tony has made. It's not much. You want a middleclass? Well I'd say a runaway housing market (pricing people out) and record high levels of personal debt don't look too good do they?

NHS - still not good. PFI hospitals poor value for money.

Transport - Let's invest in rail... Oh! that's not worked let's invest in roads. Oh yeah, PFI roads... With tolls.... Brilliant.

PFI is profoundly undemocratic. When the Tories were doing it, Blair PROMISED not to and he said he'd bring some utilities back into the public domain. Has he? Has he bollocks. We've got more of our services being sold off than ever.

You want Lords reform? Tony changed his mind mid session and effectively scuppered it. Then there's he peers his government appointed. Ever heard of "jobs for the boys"

Tony has done little to nothing to reign in the Monarchy. In fact he seems to enjoy having them around.

Europe - where's the referendum Tony? Oh yes, that's right you lied didn't you?

Just to remind you, you seemed pretty sure that Blair could moderate Bush's behaviour towards Iraq. Well if this is moderated, well done Tony!

Tony has fired the only anti GMO guy in his inner circle? Why, because he's going to sell the U.K out again.

Since you see fit to harangue those of us that disagree with you as "uninformed" I'm going to say the following with no regret. You are suprememely arrogant much like Tony Blair and his inner circle. Just because you believe something to be right does not make it so.Just because you believe something at all does not give you or Tony to bypass democracy to act on it. Furthermore, several times your knowledge of British life / politics has been exposed. I'd suggest if you believe Tony is so bloody good, you come and live over here so you can experience it first hand. Alternatively you could stop patronising those of us that do in fact live here, do in fact have a hand in British politics and do in fact know what they are talking about because it is happening to them.

[AP]

17. This is what Blair's doing:

If the UK didn't get involved in Iraq, the US would be in there all by themselves fucking it up for a generation. Europe is on the way to some pretty quick economic growth and will need ME oil in the next generation to fuel that growth. The EU has an economy which is actually very liberal & concerned with promoting social justice (because that's good for economies). They also take monopolies very seriously (remember how they wouldn't roll over for the GE-Marconi merger. That probably pissed Bush off more than anything. Well, the US doesn't want to compete with a functioning, competitive European economy. Because, that would mean no more tax cuts for the rich, good public education, and Democrats who don't hand the wealth of the nation over to the already wealthy getting elected from hear to the horizon. So, Bush wants to sabotage Europe. Blair is standing up to Bush by staying close to Bush. (Keep your friends closer. Keep your enemies closer.) Blair's strategy is to keep an eye on the US. Prevent Iraq, to the extent possible, from falling into miserable chaos. Hold out to a Democrat gets elected. And hold on to government until that happens. The US wants to get the EU economy by the short hairs. Just like in CA, Venezuela, wherever, Republicans think that they can ruin economies and then pretend that it's the fault of the liberal governments. Blair is trying to prevent that.

[scipan]

20. You don't know how much I hope you're right

but where is the evidence? I have been waiting and waiting for some sign that Blair is doing anything other than going along with the PNACers. I don't know if I've ever been do disappointed, or fooled, by a politician before. He talks beautifully, but his *actions*, over and over again, belie his words. Where is the quid pro quo for Tony? Global warming? He got to make a speech to Congress and tell them they really should do something about it. Whoopee. Moderating the US in Iraq? All we seem to have is a kinder, gentler occupation in the south, and I can't see much influence on the US-occupied part. But, Tony gave and continues to give Bush* legitimacy there. UN control? Ha. If he's keeping his enemies closer, that seems to be about all he is doing so far. I agree that Bush* wants to weaken the EU. But, wouldn't Blair strenghthen it by pushing for the euro? He's not, or at least he lost the argument to Gordon Brown. In general, the UK is moving closer to the US and farther from the EU, from all the tidbits I've read. Our economies are more in sync than a few years ago. So again, where is the evidence that Blair is saving the EU?

[AP]

22. Blair is pushing for the Euro.

Brits are very sentimental about the pound (can you imagine being sentimental about a unit of measurement? It's like being sentimental for the inch.) It's not easy to convince them to make that big of a change. And imagine what would happen if they switched over and then the US totally sabotaged the economy. Voters would blaim Blair before they blamed the US, and Tories would rule for a generation.

I don't know what you're reading if you think Blair isn't taking the UK into Europe.

[lanlady]

24. you're dreaming, AP

For starters, without Blair, Bush might have thought twice about invading Iraq. The UK gave him the cover he craved to call it a "coalition." Without the UK--well, not even the average dim-witted Faux-fed American would be impressed by our going to war with Poland and Eritrea as allies.

Even if Bush HAD invaded Iraq without the UK, we still would have managed to f*** up royally.

As for your arguments concerning Blair and the US/Europe relationship--nice try, but a lot of what you say is pure fiction. Blair is not on some mission to protect Europe from the ravages of GOP-led America. And if you call his behavior "standing up to Bush," I'd hate to see what he'd do to actually pacify the cowboy--dispense the Vasoline and spread his cheeks with his own hands?

[realFedUp]

15. The Hutton inquiry sure isn't getting press here....

like a big blackout on Britain right now...

[0rganism]

21. Reminds me of the Baxter "investigation"

So many convenient deaths, so little coverage.

[Unknown Known]

18. If Blair goes down, he won't go quietly...

he may very well be the one to also take down the bushes

[AP]

19. If Blair goes down it's BECAUSE he CAN'T fight the power of the Bush

evil empire.

If he goes down, don't expect him to take anyone with him.

But you can say hello to your knew Tory PM, Ian Duncan-Smith.

[T_i_B]

25. Correction

If Blair goes down it's because he will not fight the power of the Bush evil empire. If Blair had not bent over for Bush then he would not be in the mess he is in now.

[lanlady]

26. Thank you, Thankfully_

for pointing that out. Some folks around here are too besotted with Blair to think straight.

[0007]

27. The American Press is absolutely quiet!

All through the lonely prairie land of Crawford Texas with George W. Bush, nary a word is whispered about Mr. Blair
and Kelly's death.

One would think that the BBC & Blair had been buried long ago.