Comments on: Northern Ireland http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:14:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Roger Huffadine http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373#comment-2654 Roger Huffadine Thu, 03 Feb 2005 21:52:50 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373#comment-2654 arrest someone charge them convict them THEN if they are IRA there may be a link otherwise demand that both parties get on with the negotiations. Come on Tony it isn't rocket science If you are in doubt ask your wife - she still understands the law. arrest someone
charge them
convict them
THEN
if they are IRA there may be a link

otherwise demand that both parties get on with the negotiations.

Come on Tony it isn’t rocket science

If you are in doubt ask your wife - she still understands the law.

]]> By: Chuck Unsworth http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373#comment-2652 Chuck Unsworth Thu, 03 Feb 2005 17:16:40 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373#comment-2652 Horse's Head? - Wrong end of the spinal column, I think. But it is true, unfortunately, that Blair never has any doubts about anything. It's the absolute conviction that is so worrying. They all seem to have a crazed evangelism about their 'mission', whatever it may be. None ever admits to failure or uncertainty. Lemmings come to mind. Horse’s Head? - Wrong end of the spinal column, I think. But it is true, unfortunately, that Blair never has any doubts about anything.

It’s the absolute conviction that is so worrying. They all seem to have a crazed evangelism about their ‘mission’, whatever it may be. None ever admits to failure or uncertainty.

Lemmings come to mind.

]]> By: PapaLazzzaru http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373#comment-2651 PapaLazzzaru Thu, 03 Feb 2005 01:59:28 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/02/01/1373#comment-2651 I seem to remember the PM being briefed by the head of SIS on the absolute certainty of WMD existing in Iraq; the information was so hot off the press and so dynamite that he had to drop what he was doing and do a runner over to Downing Street. It turned out to be wrong - even though to this day I don't recall hearing that kind of acknowledgement from the horses head, sorry, mouth. I mean, in front of 4 separate enquiries and committees, no-one in the cabinet all the way up to Bliar thought to volunteer that they KNEW that information was discredited at source. He also lied about Iraq trying to obtain nuclear material from Niger; when THAT information was discredited he lied about its source, and said he had ANOTHER source - which was also eventually discredited. Why then, should we believe him when he says he is in no doubt about something? Regardless of who has told him what? Because of his past record as regards honesty with the country in general, every time he says he has no doubt, I instantly find myself looking for other angles, other possible scenarios. There are plenty as regards this particular issue; it's not beyond the bounds of credibility that the raid was carried out by others in order to blame the IRA. I'm not saying that was the case; merely just the fact that it's Tony Bliar saying "I have no doubt" which instantly raises my antennae. I seem to remember the PM being briefed by the head of SIS on the absolute certainty of WMD existing in Iraq; the information was so hot off the press and so dynamite that he had to drop what he was doing and do a runner over to Downing Street. It turned out to be wrong - even though to this day I don’t recall hearing that kind of acknowledgement from the horses head, sorry, mouth. I mean, in front of 4 separate enquiries and committees, no-one in the cabinet all the way up to Bliar thought to volunteer that they KNEW that information was discredited at source. He also lied about Iraq trying to obtain nuclear material from Niger; when THAT information was discredited he lied about its source, and said he had ANOTHER source - which was also eventually discredited.

Why then, should we believe him when he says he is in no doubt about something? Regardless of who has told him what? Because of his past record as regards honesty with the country in general, every time he says he has no doubt, I instantly find myself looking for other angles, other possible scenarios. There are plenty as regards this particular issue; it’s not beyond the bounds of credibility that the raid was carried out by others in order to blame the IRA. I’m not saying that was the case; merely just the fact that it’s Tony Bliar saying "I have no doubt" which instantly raises my antennae.

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