Posted by Ivan Rendall on Saturday, 19 July 2015 in Blogging
Truth & Consequences
Why has Cameron announced British defence and foreign policy on the Middle East, specifically on bombing Syria as well as Iraq, on US television?
Has he lost faith in the UK Parliament and media?
Why has Lord Richards indicated that we should ‘get on a war footing’ ?
Is this some kind of rallying call?
Why has Fallon dismissed the participation of British aircrews in actions over Syria as ‘standard operating practice’?
Is that a phrase that has any meaning in the context of airmen and women on exchange tours with allies?
It seems we’ve had rather a lot of fly-pasts over London on television recently (The Battle of Britain’s 75th anniversary should, absolutely, be marked, but I get the feeling it’s being milked for political reasons.)
Is the confluence of these news managed forays coincidental or are they part of a wider plan to substitute policy with populism. If so, we’ve all seen where improvised policies get us: Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Libya and it would have been Syria except Parliament intervened.
None of the above was clearly thought through. Now all, except possibly Kuwait, are in chaos and adding to funnelling tons of arms, scores (?) of terrorists, millions of refugees, millions of migrants, brutal ideas, etc all flowing into Europe.
I would support military action if it had a clear objective.
I accept that governments, even democratic ones, must be able to keep certain military matters secret.
However, the prerequisite for that is that we trust our government. And the track record on that score of this, and the previous Blair Labour, government is virtually non-existent.
If the situation is as serious as the political pronouncements suggest then it’s not foreign TV stations that Cameron should be gracing, but Parliament.
And Westminster is about to close down for a couple of months.
Above all we need to hear the truth, insofar as it can be told, and nothing else will do Prime Minister! No lies, just tell us, don’t try and manage our brains and emotions. Try it!
Before you go off on holiday Mr C, consider this: World War 1 started in a muddle in 4 August 1914; World War 2 started unexpectedly on 3 September 1939; The Korean War started in surprise on 25 June 1950 (a Sunday); Saddam invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990, to name a few wars that started as western/democratic ministers were preparing for the beaches and fleshpots and dictators remained in their bunkers and offices.
Where is Putin planning to go on holiday? Sochi; the Kremlin; Kiev; Riga; Warsaw; Berlin?
Perhaps we should be on a war footing But for which war?
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