TONY BLAIR does not just grasp at straws. He claws at them with passion, kisses them all over and cries their beauty to the world. Yesterday the Attorney-General was such a straw and by close of play was looking the worse for wear. If he had wanted to share any caveats about the Iraq war with the British people, Mr Blair was able to imply, he was free to do so. He attended Cabinet. He sits in Parliament. He said the war was fine.
I'm envious of Times reporter Simon Jenkins, for having written that. I'm going to add him to my list of people who should blog.
Yesterday the radio was alive with the sounds of parsing. How many ways can you call Tony Blair a liar without using the word "liar?" My favorite was the conclusion that he "suffers a veracity shortfall."
Is the news that the Brits have concluded the war was "probably illegal" interrupting live coverage of nothing special in the U.S.? Are any administration officials booking Thomas Mesereau for their defense? Is CNN assigning reporters to cover the trial at the Hague?
Of course not. The United Congregations of America (and their wholly-owned subsidiary New Labour) is Supreme Ruler of the World Galaxy and any hitchhikers can just watch while they smite international law and kill hundreds of thousands of innocents consolidate power.
(Overheard: "Let's colonize Mars, now that we've made the world safe for 'democracy!'" "But what about the Democrats in Congress?" "Nuke 'em.")
Here's more Simon Jenkins:
Yesterday the torpid 2005 election campaign had an adrenalin rush. Democracy grabbed power by the throat, shook it hard and demanded explanation. The errors in the invasion of Iraq may be history, but mendacity is not mitigated by time. It craves atonement.
Beware, you international scofflaws. One of these days Democracy's coming for your ass, with fangs bared and a mighty thirst for truth.
Meanwhile, you might want to put out that raging fire in your pants. The smoke is starting to cloud your judgment.
