Former UK Diplomats Slam Blair, Bush

Via Kuro5hin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a letter to British Prime Minister Tony Blair published in The Independent, an overwhelming host of former diplomats* argued that the effort in Iraq is doomed:

The conduct of the war in Iraq has made it clear that there was no effective plan for the post-Saddam settlement. All those with experience of the area predicted that the occupation of Iraq by the coalition forces would meet serious and stubborn resistance, as has proved to be the case. To describe the resistance as led by terrorists, fanatics and foreigners is neither convincing nor helpful. Policy must take account of the nature and history of Iraq, the most complex country in the region. However much Iraqis may yearn for a democratic society, the belief that one could now be created by the coalition is naive.

It's time to acknowledge we've made some mistakes and move on, quickly, to Plan B here.

*Just because it's so impressive, I've copied the entire list here:

Yours faithfully, Sir Brian Barder, former high commissioner, Australia; Paul Bergne, former diplomat; Sir John Birch, former ambassador, Hungary; Sir David Blatherwick, former ambassador, Ireland; Graham Hugh Boyce, former ambassador, Egypt; Sir Julian Bullard, former ambassador, Bonn; Juliet Campbell, former ambassador, Luxemburg; Sir Bryan Cartledge, former ambassador, Soviet Union; Terence Clark, former ambassador, Iraq; David Hugh Colvin, former ambassador, Belgium; Francis Cornish, former ambassador, Israel; Sir James Craig, former ambassador, Saudi Arabia; Sir Brian Crowe: former director-general, external and defence affairs, Council of the European Union; Basil Eastwood, former ambassador, Syria; Sir Stephen Egerton, diplomatic service, Kuwait; William Fullerton, former ambassador, Morocco; Dick Fyjis-Walker, ex-chairman, Commonwealth Institute; Marrack Goulding, former head of United Nations Peacekeeping; John Graham, former Nato ambassador, Iraq; Andrew Green, former ambassador, Syria; Victor Henderson, former ambassador, Yemen; Peter Hinchcliffe, former ambassador, Jordan; Brian Hitch, former High Commissioner, Malta; Sir Archie Lamb, former ambassador, Norway; Sir David Logan, former ambassador, Turkey; Christopher Long, former ambassador, Switzerland; Ivor Lucas, former assistant secretary-general, Arab-British Chamber of Commerce; Ian McCluney, former ambassador, Somalia; Maureen MacGlashan, foreign service in Israel; Philip McLean, former ambassador, Cuba; Sir Christopher MacRae, former ambassador, Chad; Oliver Miles, diplomatic service in Middle East; Martin Morland, former ambassador, Burma; Sir Keith Morris, former ambassador, Colombia; Sir Richard Muir, former ambassador, Kuwait; Sir Alan Munro, former ambassador, Saudi Arabia; Stephen Nash, ambassador, Latvia; Robin O'Neill, former ambassador, Austria; Andrew Palmer, former ambassador, Vatican; Bill Quantrill, former ambassador, Cameroon; David Ratford, former ambassador, Norway; Tom Richardson, former UK deputy ambassador, UN; Andrew Stuart, former ambassador, Finland; Michael Weir, former ambassador, Cairo; Alan White, former ambassador, Chile; Hugh Tunnell, former ambassador, Bahrain; Charles Treadwell, former ambassador, UAE; Sir Crispin Tickell, former UN Ambassador; Derek Tonkin, former ambassador, Thailand; David Tatham, former governor, Falkland Islands; Harold "Hooky" Walker, former ambassador, Iraq; Jeremy Varcoe, former ambassador, Somalia.

Comments

[James Casey]

Um, despite this being two or three days old, in what sense is it 'overwhelming'?

I ask as much out of curiosity as anything. Not knowing much about the names of my own country's diplomats (or laundromats, or any kind of mat really), I've been uncertain since the news broke over here, whether these are significant names or not - are they the wisest, the pre-eminent, etc?

[James Casey]

Oh crap.

I've just realised the 'Juliet Campbell' in the list is someone I know.

She's very good at anything she does.

Consider me heavily chastened.

[Sebastian Holsclaw]

And Plan B is?

[Edward]

Plan B, as the good Diplomats suggest is to "give authority to the United Nations to work with the Iraqis themselves, including those who are now actively resisting the occupation, to clear up the mess."

James, it's the volume that's overwhemling...and the fact that it's not very usual for this many former ambassadors get together to criticize a sitting Prime Minister...also, this format is now, like most things British, being tried over here:

Former US diplomats send protest letter to Bush

[James Casey]

also, this format is now, like most things British, being tried over here

Tsk. First you nick the language, then you try to copy the Beatles with the Monkees, then your diplomats attack your Government's foreign policy - it's a never-ceasing ledger of unoriginality.

[kenB]

And in each case the derivative is far inferior to the original.

[James Casey]

Yeah, well, why d'you think I chose those examples???

[double-plus-ungood]

Juan Cole's commentary on this a few days ago gave me pause:

It is extraordinary how terrified these experienced diplomats are, and amazing that these men who spent a lifetime practicing discretion would now speak out. ... This letter is canary in the mine material, and should alarm everyone concerned with the situation in Iraq. They clearly are afraid that the 7500 British troops and administrators in Iraq are in severe danger from Bush/Blair policies, and that Israeli Prime Minister Sharon's policy of "negotiation by murder" has the potential to set the whole region aflame, just as, in some ways, it already has Fallujah.

[Gary Farber]

"...it's a never-ceasing ledger of unoriginality...."

In between the language and the Beatles, we nicked off with "democracy," "world empire," and the good china.

Left behind in the rush: spotted dick, Isle of Wight, David Frost.

Still resentful over: Benny Hill.

Still on loan: Diego Garcia, Scotch whiskey, making fun of the French.

Gifts to you: Winston Churchill's mother, McDonalds, Madonna, "Friends."

Wish you would take off our hands: Michael Jackson, David Hasselhoff (you could pass him on to Germany; they love him in Germany, you know), Bill O'Reilly, those wood chopsticks that break badly.

Everyone else can play!

[asdf]

Tsk. First you nick the language, then you try to copy the Beatles with the Monkees, then your diplomats attack your Government's foreign policy - it's a never-ceasing ledger of unoriginality.

Hey man, the Beatles stole R and B from us.

[James Casey]

Scotch whiskEy, Gary?

[Sebastian Holsclaw]

"...and the fact that it's not very usual for this many former ambassadors get together to criticize a sitting Prime Minister..."

Isn't sending this kind of a public letter almost damning evidence that you are de facto not a good diplomat?

[Gary Farber]

"Isn't sending this kind of a public letter almost damning evidence that you are de facto not a good diplomat?"

No. You seem to be suggesting that the only good diplomacy is that which is done privately. Regardless of the merits or demerits of this case, that general statement is obviously not true.

[Slartibartfast]

I know some of you don't care for instapundit, but in this case he's just the bearer of bad news.

I'm not sure quite what to make of this, other than it's best to be very, very careful in selecting who you take money from.

[Jesurgislac]

Now I wonder: how is this claim any different from the assertion that many neocons have close links with Israel and therefore their advice to Bush is tainted?

[James Casey]

That's what, six out of the 52?

[Slartibartfast]

Now I wonder: how is this claim any different from the assertion that many neocons have close links with Israel and therefore their advice to Bush is tainted?

Tainted with what?

Let me think. When's the last time Israel decided to attempt a major attack on the United States? I'm going to have to visit the Wayback Machine and find out.