Day 5: The ‘TRIAL’ of Tony Blair – Opioides for Oborne?

Yes, the black border's getting thicker

Comment at end

4th July, 2009

NOTE: Whenever I spot an article that I consider prejudicial to the seeking of TRUTH and to the acceptance of the outcome of the upcoming Iraq Inquiry I will add another “Day”. The biased, brainwashing and ultimately dangerous Daily Mail earns my opprobrium today.

THE DAILY MAIL PREJUDICES THE OUTCOME & REPERCUSSIONS OF …

THE TRIAL … er … IRAQ INQUIRY

Are there NO sanctions the government can impose upon the British press as we approach the Iraq Inquiry? Do we just have to put up with their masquerading as the ONLY truth seekers, as they espouse their exaggeration and downright lies? Does it matter not one jot that many people, thanks to the press, may still be looking for severe punishment for Tony Blair, even if the Inquiry clears him of ALL and ANY wrongdoing or misleading of parliament and the country? Might another black eye be the least of his worries AFTER this inquiry? Would the press’s ‘consciences’ be tweaked if summary justice were to be meted out to anyone, even a panel member or family member, friend or associate of a witness following this “show trial”?

‘Rights without responsibilities’ is a phrase readily attachable to today’s press.

I dislike Peter Oborne of the vitriolic Daily Mail. No point pretending.

But I’m starting to wonder if he needs help. The poor man may be in constant pain, given that his nastiness is boundless, perhaps even chronic. This is NOT normal. If so, can I recommend a daily opioid? Replace the grapefruit/cereal/toast and in no time, Mr Oborne, you’ll be feeling SO much better. You might even discover such tranquility that you conclude that politicians are people too and deserving of some respect, even if you disagree with their politics. Most of them, anyway. (When/if the Tories get to work, of course, you might have to go back to the cornflakes.)

Seriously though, Oborne’s writing has a nasty, vindictive streak leading me to the conclusion that he consumes some unpalatable concoction each morning to set himself up nicely for the day’s rantings. These ravings seem far more bitter and twisted than just party political oppositioning. And they are.

Yes, he is a Conservative supporter, more or less, though I believe he said he voted for Libertas in the EU elections. Backed the wrong horse, Mr Oborne? His longstanding attacks on Labour have been even more strongly directed personally at Tony Blair. His hopes were raised when Gordon Brown took over (wrong horse again.) Now severely disappointed he must, surely MUST, even HE, realise that he is treading dangerous grounds in his article today at The Mail assuredly titled “Our Right Honorable Liars Debauching Democracy”. (Btw, what’s with the American spelling of “honorable”? Has he no honour, this Englishman?) Enough rhetoricals for one day.

HE DOESN’T NEED TO MENTION THE IRAQ INQUIRY TO AFFECT IT

Oborne’s article today does NOT mention the upcoming Iraq Inquiry, only an earlier one. That hardly matters. The significance is in the message that it sends as to the trustworthiness of individuals who will be in the spotlight. And we know who they will be. You can rest assured that the drip-drip effect of self-righteous perfidy is designed to harm the credibility of the testimony of the Iraq Inquiry’s witnesses. It will further prejudice the public against them, as it has been doing for years. Worse it will negate the acceptance of a favourable outcome for the “accused”, if that is the Inquiry’s judgement. And we are to expect at least a YEAR of this outpouring of poisonous, brainwashing venom?

The reason Oborne’s approach is so dangerous is that, putting aside its anti-Labour position, it screams the message that there has never been such a bunch of manipulative liars as the present Labour government, under whichever leader. Flowing from that is the secondary message – that they cannot be beaten by fair means or even foul, such is their sly corruption and powerful connections. And from that the third message – even if the present government’s leaders and Mr Blair come out of the Iraq Inquiry smelling of roses – it will ALL be LIES.

The concluding, dangerous message – you/we are within your/our rights to GET these people ANY WAY you/we can, foul or not, since the system does not hold held them accountable.

To set off attack dogs a tweak on a leash is all it takes.

AN EXCERPT FROM OBORNE’S MAIL ARTICLE

‘An equally disturbing case of this culture of mendacity concerns Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s press spokesman and a notorious and habitual liar.

In the summer of 2003, the former red-top tabloid political editor appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee to answer questions about the preparation of the notorious government dossier which had claimed that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction.

Campbell lied repeatedly during this hearing — misleading MPs on a number of substantive points.

At the time, I sent well-documented proof that he was lying to Mike Gapes, who later became chairman of the committee, urging him to investigate.

But Gapes, an old Labour Party trusty, refused to do so. When I asked him for a reason, he refused to answer me.

However, Tony Blair himself provides the most heinous example of political dishonesty.

As I set out in my book, The Rise Of Political Lying, he repeatedly misled the Commons on a range of matters and, most particularly, over the Iraq War.

Again and again he would make emphatic statements which gravely misrepresented the briefings he had been given by British intelligence.

Amazingly these lies remain uncorrected to this day on the official record.

Blair could never have got away with this kind of systemic deceit had it not been for the shameful and partisan inertia of Commons Speaker Michael Martin — and a weak Tory opposition that failed to hold him to account.

When Gordon Brown became prime minister, he asserted that he would bring a new integrity to British politics.

I was one of those who foolishly believed him, but sadly Brown’s mendacity is, if anything, more shameless than Blair’s.’

IRAQ, LIES, LIBEL, EXPENSES, BERCOW, BIAS, PUBLIC DISTRUST

Oborne thus makes it crystal clear in his article that he considers an earlier inquiry into Iraq a travesty. He backs it up by saying that HE and HIS evidence were both discounted by (biased or instructed) pro-Labour people. And he is secure enough to call Alastair Campbell and others liars.

Do the laws of libel no longer apply in this country? Or does he know that right now no-one will bring him to task for this? The Iraq Inquiry looms large in all their minds.

He manages not to mention any Conservative MPs in his ridicule of the expenses issues, assuming that we are all daft enough to think that only the Labour party were mis-using the system. Oh yes, he DOES mention Bercow, the new Tory- ish speaker. Unpopular with many Conservatives this is the man who thought Blair’s leadership ‘inspirational’. So that’s him discounted instantly.

And quite how Brown’s “mendacity” can be “more shameless” than Blair’s given that Blair was according to Oborne “the most heinous example of political dishonesty” is beyond me and my grasp of relative comparisons. ONE of them surely was worse than the other. Or doesn’t it matter, as long as the Mail’s commenters conclude this:

“I hate them all………….and trust none”

And they do. See the comments at his article for proof. In case you have forgotten this paper closely monitors EVERY comment prior to publication and always has done. So don’t bother if you are pro-Labour or worse pro-Blair. They only accept THEIR prejudices at this organ of FREE SPEECH.

So, job done, Mr Oborne. You and your “WE ALL KNOW-ERS” have added not one iota of reasoned thought or argument to the debate on political honesty OR to the fairness of the Iraq Inquiry’s press coverage or its perception by the public, before, during and afterwards.

RELATED

Blair ‘TRIAL’ posts

Day 1: THE TRIALS, TRIALS & ‘TRIAL’ OF TONY BLAIR

Day 2: The ‘TRIAL’ of Tony Blair & Press/Internet Freedom

Day 3: The ‘TRIAL’ of Tony Blair – “The Independent can report that…”

Day 4: The ‘TRIAL’ of Tony Blair – House of Commons Debate on Iraq Inquiry

Day 6: The “TRIAL” of Tony Blair – Kelly/13 Doctors/Norman Baker/Bahai Faith

ETCETERA