11 revealing private notes between Tony Blair and George W Bush published in the Chilcot Report

[muriel_volestrangler]

Blair writes to Bush within hours of the 9/11 terror attacks to say the West's response must include a clampdown on countries with WMD.
...
December 3rd, 2001:

“It would be excellent to get rid of Saddam,” Blair said.

But he added “there needed to be a clever strategy for doing this... An extremely clever plan would be required.”
...
December 4th, 2001:

He calls for a “strategy for regime change that builds over time... until we get to a point where military action could be taken if necessary.”
...
July 28th, 2002:

Damningly, it begins with a simple message to Bush: “I will be with you, whatever.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/11-revealing-private-notes-between-8359795

I think 'poodle' is too kind a word for Blair. 'Lickspittle' might be better.

[malaise]

1. Cameron is ignoring this part as he regurgitates

what suits his agenda

[Denzil_DC]

2. "An extremely clever plan would be required.”

[tanyev]

3. That would explain a lot.

[Javaman]

4. that jumped out at me as well...

cartoons at the UN should do it!!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

5. "clever plan" = 9/11. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. No, that was written post 9/11; the 'plan' seems to have been to increase fear of Saddam

by claiming he was developing WMD (including nuclear), pushing for inspections and then hoping Saddam screwed up - or Iraqis rose in revolt.

[Denzil_DC]

7. The most revolting aspect of the run-up to war

was the relentless pressure on the Iraqi people, from deserting them to Saddam's clutches at Fallujah etc. under Bush I to the inhuman sanctions regime and decade-long "price worth paying" (thanks, Albright).

More modern thought tends to favor targeted sanctions, aimed at those in power, not making ordinary people so miserable that you hope they'll rise up in arms, likely only to be annihilated.

[suffragette]

8. Increasing fear and engendering profit

Might as well be the motto for Blair and Bush.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. You can search the documents here:

http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/search/

By Feb 19th 2003, Blair wrote to Bush:

So: the trick we need to take is this: we have to find a way of refocussing the issue on the absence of full co-operation by Saddam; and do so in a way that pulls public opinion and the UNSC waverers back to us by showing indeed that we have made every effort to avoid war.

(Disadvantages of a second UN resolution: )

It may delay the start of military action by a week.

http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/244051/2003-02-19-note-blair-to-bush-undated-note.pdf

And even with that admission they've planned the start of the war already, and the resolution is just a trick to get public opinion on their side, he claims in the same note that it's "absurd" that "what they fear is that we are hell bent on war, come what may, that we don't want the UN to succeed".

[malaise]

10. To be kind

They lied the world into war - these war criminals should be locked up