Well, that's it, then

[akicif]

Quote from the radio:

How dare the FBU even think of going on strike and putting lives at risk when a quarter of our army are in the Middle East?

How about "How dare our Government get our army involved in stupid foreign adventures when they're needed at home to cover up for the mess being made of the firefighters' strike?"

Then from last night's news, this "six tests" thing. Some of these may be vaguely sensible (by the Government's lights, anyway), but do they really think it's helpful or constructive to insist on Saddam humiliating himself on national TV? Isn't it rather like Austria-Hungary's ultimatum to Serbia nearly ninety years ago?

And now it looks as if they're not even going to bother going for a second Security Council resolution. War in less than a week, perhaps?

Comments

[ang-grrr.livejournal.com]

What is it with Blair [1]and "tests"?

We've had "tests" to join monetary union, we have more "tests" in school. Suddenly everything from serving a sandwich to running a youth group has a booklet and a number of pointers you have to sign-off. Life seems to be one great big happy exam for Mr Blair at the start of the new century.

Some things can't be written on a list and then checked off.

[1] I should point out that I automatically typed "Bush" first. I think this shows how close the two have become in my conciousness.

Tests and Lists

[muninnhuginn]

He probably dreams in bullet points too.

In the case of his six tests, one wonders if there's an element of moving, or at the very least narrowing, the goal posts.

Re: Tests and Lists

[akicif.livejournal.com]

Indeed. But I think it's maybe more like bricking-up the goal...

[the-gardener.livejournal.com]

If it is war is less than a week, then it would begin without all the troops in position -- the Turkish parliament has still to vote on allowing US forces into south-eastern Anatolia (although reports indicate that there's a few thousand of them there already -- but just the men; no armour or helicopter gunships).

But that would probably suit the Turkish military -- in public, the generals have endorsed the proposed deplyoment of US forces to south-eastern Anatolia, but in private they know that a US presence would prevent the de facto annexation of Kurdistan and the northern oilfields.

[rathgild.livejournal.com]

However, speaking with a colleague I was told her husband has been recalled to the Turkish army. This may have been something to do with his having been in their Special Forces. Colleague was bemoaning that telephone call was received giving him less than 24 hours to pack, say goodbyes, and get to the airport to catch the flight that had been arranged for him. I gather refusal wasn't an option.

Why do I feel so gloomy?