Howard rejects war lies petition
JOHN Howard yesterday rejected a statement by 43 former service chiefs and diplomats who accused him of committing Australia to the Iraq war on the basis of lies.
The Prime Minister vowed to continue to reject the “misrepresentation” that his Government joined the war in Iraq based on false assumptions and deception.
The letter was signed by former defence force chiefs Alan Beaumont and Peter Gration, former defence department secretary Paul Barratt, former prime minister’s department secretaries Alan Renouf and Richard Woolcott and former ambassadors including Rawdon Dalrymple, Stephen Fitzgerald and Ross Garnaut.
There are no surprises there.
They did the same in 2002 as reported here and look at the signatories then:
Bill Hayden, governor-general, 1989-1996; E.G. Whitlam, prime minister 1972-1975; J.M. Fraser, prime minister 1975-1983; R.J. Hawke, prime minister 1983-1991; John Hewson, opposition leader 1990-1994; General Peter Gration, chief of the Defence Force 1987-1993; Admiral Alan Beaumont, chief of the Defence Force 1993-1995; Admiral Mike Hudson, chief of the naval staff 1985-1991; Major-General Peter Phillips, national president, RSL.
No surprises there either.
The Evatt foundation also talk about the 2002 petition. Go there and see what company they keep.
Margo Kingston, Al Gore, Gareth (Biggles) Evans, Phillip Knightly and Tom Uren to name a few.
I hope Howard had the wit to roll his eyes on receiving the petition.
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Two inquiries have found the government DID NOT misrepresent intelligence about Iraq?s weapons programs and DID NOT pressure spy agencies into bolstering a case for war.
It has been said many times, but must be stated again, the only ones lying are those who continue to say the Govt lied. Simple as that!!!!
Facts are not relevant when these people feel a need to hammer a conservative government. Just keep on telling the lie and some fools will believe it and vote accordingly
I see that there is a common thread among the conservative bloggers. Disgust at the way this ‘petition’ is being touted as a stunning new development. Clearly neither the content nor the people who signed it are of any novel news value.
Gosh, who’d a thunk it? A bunch of superannuated chardonnay elites no longer muzzled by their professional obligations are speaking out. What, I wonder, makes their opinions any more special than ours. They don’t have access to any information we don’t.
Reaction to the document seems to be polarised. The punters think it’s either a damning indictment of the ‘liar Howard junta’, or an irrelevant pinch of reheated turd. The press seem to be taking it very seriously – funny that, kind of says where their opinions lie, doesn’t it?
Al,
Yes – as I say – no surprise anywhere. Simply a recycled attack that really says little that hasn’t been debated ad nauseum.
Well, at least THEY were right about WMDs. Maybe they actually understand the what’s going on in the world. Pity Johnny-boy has fired anyone else who’d tell him.
typo, obviously.
Typo! No I reckon it’s because you don’t have a good grasp on whats going on and what has gone on in the world.
The ‘they lied’ mantra only come about after the event when none were found. Before the event It was commonly accepted by all parties, including the Left Wing preferred Government – the UN, that WMDs existed. At least Saddam hadn’t proved that he had got rid of them.
We went to war for a lot of reasons and WMDs were only one of them. The other reasons remain sound and a democracy in the middle of the Midlle East area will only better mankind.
You obviously don’t understand Inteligence gathering. It’s not an exact science and all the agencies can do is call it as they see it and recommend a course of action to the government.
The government makes a decision and sticks to it. Well conservative governments do anyway.
After two enquirys you’d think you might have picked up some of this but I guess chanting Ohmm, they lied, ohmm. they lied, ohmm, they lied…..all day, effects your ability to read and listen.
Never mind, with a bit of luck you will get another four years to practise.