THE FALSE BUT ALLURING TRAIL OF “WMD”
As the prospect of a serious inquiry into the origins of the UK’s involvement in the Iraq war develops, so will the status of “WMD” – as in some way a cult “must-have-been-seen” movie for anyone wishing to take part in the debate.
For those of us who have thought through the issues, this is not an entirely welcome development. “WMD” addresses a side-issue – which is how, to the chilling “write-off” of a human life, the senior echelons of British Intelligence connived at the manipulation of its lower echelons by United States Intelligence.
“WMD” incisively shows the mechanics and human cost of this manoeuvring – which led to the documentary base of parliamentary and media presentations, to the effect, some one would say, of deceiving the Great British Public.
How can all this be reduced to a “side-issue” ? Are we not confronted with a perversion of our democracy ?
Not really. Our democracy is nothing if not “representative”. And our “representative” in matters of international honour and national security is not Parliament but the “Queen-in-Parliament” – in other words, our executive authority. Consultation there must be, but thereafter the decision is discretionary.
That any parliamentary consultation may have been conducted on purposely-laid false premises is a pity. But it’s not the issue whether the UK should have gone to war.
John Emeric
