Galbally;1082391 wrote: Why British troops were ever in Iraq is the question that British people have to ask themselves.
Few people in Britain (unlike the US) now doubt that this was an unjust war fought on a premise that was a lie and had nothing to do with the September 11th attacks on America or the so called "war on terror" (unlike Afganistan). To me it seems it was a score settling exercise by the Bush administration on a country that was seen to offer a target of convienience to a wounded superpower. The British were there because of their continuing belief that the interests of the UK revolve around this "special relationship" with America.
I would question that premise, and think its got a lot to do with the continuing British inability to recover emotionally from WW 2. In any case, most ordinary Americans don't even seem to realize or care less thousands of Brits have fought in Iraq, and that hundreds of British servicemen have died fighting in this war. Thats gratitude for you. "Special Relationship" my arse.
However, there is no point blaming America or George Bush for the fact that the British Army was involved in this military debacle, and utterly immoral militarist adventure. That was the decision of the British Government alone and the one most responsible for that decision was the "Right Honourable" Tony Blair MP.
Gordon Brown is about second on that list, but I agree with Oscar that he has been trying to redeem his image on this since he became PM, too late Gordon, too late.
The political, economic, and human costs of this war will only really be realized in the coming years. The greatest cost will be the damage it has done to the moral integrity of the Western Democracies; whatever hawks might like to think.
Its as simple as this, the US and the UK should be utterly ashamed of the enormous human carnage they have wrought in Iraq with this ridiculous, futile, and unnecessary war (reported like it was a video game); and we all know it. For shame.
I have no doubt that history will not judge any of the leaders involved very kindly.
The British were there because of their continuing belief that the interests of the UK revolve around this "special relationship" with America.
the belief in a special relationship is a figment of a politicians imagination and remarkably one sided IMO. It ties in to the equally absurd belief that we can still stand alone and not need to be part of the EEC.
However, there is no point blaming America or George Bush for the fact that the British Army was involved in this military debacle, and utterly immoral militarist adventure. That was the decision of the British Government alone and the one most responsible for that decision was the "Right Honourable" Tony Blair MP.
Parliament is sovereign in this country, under thatcher and now new labour they have forgotten their role and the fact they have the power not the PM. Blair and brown could have been stopped at any time. Our politicians are a useless bunch, most of them couldn't hold down a normal job.
Gordon Brown is about second on that list, but I agree with Oscar that he has been trying to redeem his image on this since he became PM, too late Gordon, too late.
Despite what the odd daily mail reader may believe most people know only too well gordon' brown's culpability in all this.
I would question that premise, and think its got a lot to do with the continuing British inability to recover emotionally from WW 2. In any case, most ordinary Americans don't even seem to realize or care less thousands of Brits have fought in Iraq, and that hundreds of British servicemen have died fighting in this war. Thats gratitude for you. "Special Relationship" my arse.
Special Relationship" my arse.
:yh_rotfl eloquently put.
WW2 was three generations ago so I don't think you have a valid point there. Some among our politicians still have delusions of us being a great power with a part to play-ordinary people can't be arsed with that.
I suspect most ordinary americans don't know any other nation was involved in fighting the germans and the japanese or that they didn't join in until half way through.