Time To End The 'Special Relationship'

It took a report by the "Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee" to conclude what we all knew already. That for Britain it's more a "special friendship", where one partner gets to see other people, have no commitment and yet call up for a bootie call. It's amazing it took a committee to conclude that.

What made the "Special Relationship" work was Britain's relationship with the rest of the world and the rest of the world's belief that Britain would council America not to do stupid things. Blair destroyed that position giving support to Bush, he made Britain a lap dog in the eye's of the world. In doing that he undermined what made the "Special Relationship" work. He made it just a term that people snigger at.

At least we won't hopefully have to hear all about the "Special Relationship" any more, while watching MPs falling over themselves, grinning like a manic and repeating creepily the declaration that they're special, so very special, over and over again like Gollum without a comb over.

Iraq Inquiry Starts Tomorrow

Sir John Chilcot kicks off the non judgemental inquiry from tomorrow, in order to identify lessons that can be learnt from Iraq. Of course we wouldn't want to pass judgement on anyone, as that would mean taking responsibility for actions and events.

There is one upside to this is with no position of power to protect him and Labour facing the losing the election next year, Blair has reason to feel a little nervous. The Tories could shift the goal posts, if public opinion strongly shifts against Blair and New Labour in light of what will be disclosed.

It's the hope I hold on to at least. As someone who strongly believes in the rule of law, the fundamental principle that the law is above everyone and it applies to everyone. There little more distasteful to me than seeing Bush and Blair prance about on the world stage while blood covers their hands. They made a mockery of parliament, they made a mockery of democracy. That's before you even consider the human cost and how on earth can that be measured.

Lest we forget.

Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize, which is a little unexpected, I certainly didn't think I would be writing that so soon. I'm left though trying to think of what he's done in actions that deserves such an award, when others like Morgan Tsvangirai are truly more deserving.

I do however agree with the Nobel committee's statement that, with regard to Obama:

Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.

The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations.

Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.

Yet aren't you just giving Obama the award for not being George W Bush? Yes Obama isn't a warmonger, he has opened dialogue of more than two syllables with other countries, understands that climate change might be little worrying and of course also partly closed Guantanamo Bay. Yet he also legislated for detaining people without trial, rather than put them on trial. Released memos that show the Bush administration was torturing people, but declined to prosecute them for crimes clearly committed. Has has called for nuclear disarmament while sitting on the biggest pile of nuclear weapons in the world, not one of which has been disarmed.

He speaks of shared values, all while you can still be thrown out of the military for the crime of loving someone of the same sex, when only a handful of states do same sex couples have the right to marry and he's yet to retract the state terror/spying policy brought in under Bush.

Yes his words are lovely, so now he's got the Prize, earn it.

Gary McKinnon Hacker

Gary McKinnon lost his latest High Court appeal, it seems likely now that he will be extradited to the United States. Clearly what he did was wrong and he shouldn't be exempt from the law. Yet that should be proportionate, he is not a terrorist, he is the sort of guy that would stand outside of area 51 with tin foil on his head, while holding a sign saying "the truth is out there".

Why make an example of such a person? I would like to think that after a change of administration that the hysteria over terrorists would have calmed down. This is a good opportunity for Obama to show that. For our government it's also a good opportunity to address the US-UK extradition treaty's inequality. Tony Blair signed the treaty with the US, yet he would have signed over his Mother to George Bush. It's a product of appeasement, that needs to be redressed in 2009.

Torture Trail USA

Rachel Maddow an US news reporter, has been following the torture revelations in the US. In the video below she overviews what's known to date against the time frame.

The article referred to in the video can be read here.

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I don't know what's worst our government turning a blind eye to this like cowards, or Bush and co actions.