In the UK we like to think of ourselves as somewhere between our geographical neighbours on the continent of Europe and our cultural and historical allies in the USA.
When it comes to issues of Iraq and the war on terrorism, like my fellow countrymen, I find myself somewhat torn. There is no doubt that extreme views abound on this issue. Emotion rather than logic seems to prevail. I have little sympathy with extreme views on either side.
On the one hand I reject thoroughly those who claim 9/11 was a Jewish plot. No doubt some of these people probably believe that since that post the site 911review was shut down by the CIA!
Neither, however, do I think it fair to accuse those who remain skeptical about some aspects of the war on terrorism of having forgotten 9/11. I cannot accept the idea that after 9/11 all actions are somehow now allowed and do not need moral justification.
I think more of my countrymen would be convinced by the evidence of a Saddam-bin Laden link which appears to now be emerging- so it seems odd to me that this evidence far from being sexed up appears to be being played down. Perhaps we should bring back Alistair Campbell the man who was accused of sexing up the British Iraq dossier and who used to tell Blair what to do!
There can indeed by little doubt that Iraq is Better Off following the war. Saddam and Osama could both have said the memorable quote ‘Americans love Pepsi-Cola, we love death’ But some people still need convincing of this. The absence of answers about the weapons of mass destruction begins to make the Americans look like fools
The visit by Bush to the UK has been marked by more than protests, and yet another terrorist outrage, this time in Turkey. His three pillars speech and today’s joint press conference with Tony Blair and President George W Bush went along way to explaining the Bush-Blair view of the world. Will history thank them for outlining this vision of spreading freedom and defeated terrorism? Only time will tell.
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