today

The UK government has defeated a House of Commons motion that would have forced them to launch an inquiry into the war in Iraq.

I listened to Margaret Beckett's speech about Iraq and, rightly or wrongly, she did a fine job. But what are we really going to get now? Is it not all rather a charade, like we are now told the British invasion of Suez was? (I knew Anthony Eden's brother slightly and Anthony Eden himself actually sounded like a nice guy and a good P.M., but for health). If there is now a charade, it is a charade for the USA along Suez lines and once the US has its forced deals with Iraq it could be "Pull up the ladder, Jack! America (and its stolen $200 billion) is on board". USA needs the money from its own standpoint, others won't agree. In US eyes, wogs certainly begin at Calais, or more likely at the UK by the sound of it. I do not exaggerate: In the US I have frequently seen and been offered car bumper stickers showing an Arab with a GI shoving a bayonet in his guts and the slogan "What price the oil now?". I will not concoct a slogan for Arabs, they can do their own and plenty come to mind.