Australian Prime Minister John Howard has somehow found a way to steal some of the glory of his British counterpart, Tony Blair. Cyberista has never had to write a ‘Dear John’ letter before but it’s high time we did.
The Age reports today that John Howard reckons that the British report clearing the Blair Government of claims it “sexed up” its intelligence on Saddam Hussein’s weapons also exonerated him.
“Those who have accused us of taking Australia to war on a lie owe me as much an apology as those who made equal accusations against Tony Blair owe him an apology,” the Prime Minister said.
Asked if he was concerned that intelligence warnings that Iraq had stockpiled weapons of mass destruction appeared to have been incorrect, Mr Howard said: “It’s still too early to make a final judgment. If you wait for proof beyond all reasonable doubt, as I said more than a year ago, you face a potential Pearl Harbour situation.”
Firstly, the terms of reference for the British inquiry was in respect to the Blair government, not the Howard government.
Secondly, and not that we want to sound glib and trivial; but Mr Howard is yet to become Australia’s foremost expert on giving advice about making apologies. To be frank, there’s about as much chance of that happening as Mr Howard organizing and leading a National ‘Sorry’ Day march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to shake hands, kiss and makeup with Australia’s indigenous population.
The world no longer faces a ‘potential Pearl Harbour situation’.
We respectfully point out the reality is we have (and always did have) an Iraq situation. It has been exacerbated in no small part thanks to wonky evidence presented so earnestly by US Secretary of State Colin Powell to the United Nations.
Who is going to apologise, let alone take responsibility, for that?
Whether the question is tabled, let alone answered, amongst the flurry of political and diplomatic finger-pointing that lies ahead is a moot point.
NEWS LINK: Iraq critics owe me apology: Howard, The Age 30 January 2004
