[PEN-L:36198] The superficial summit

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Channel 4 News gave reported the Bush Blair summit from somewhat sceptical
British eyes:

The Pentagon has started to concede that this war could last months. Bush
has said "however long it takes."

The body language showed Bush unenthusiastically saying they will make
public a Road Map some time. Blair watched him guardedly. Later Blair
conceded a form of words suggesting that the UN might not be central to
post Saddam administration of Iraq: "we will work with the UN... to endorse
an appropriate post Saddam administration for Iraq" He also said it is
premature to engage in megaphone diplomacy.

Blair denounced the Iraqi's for executing two British soldiers on the basis
of an interpretation of an Al Jazeera film showing during the summit, with
their bodies lying away from their vehicles and apparently not wearing army
uniforms.

Later a UK government minister, Adam Ingram, on Channel 4 was quite unable
to explain what special evidence the British government had to prove these
were executions. He claimed merely to be concerned about the soldiers
families under the polite but relentless questioning of the Channel 4 news
progressive anchorman, Jon Snow. 'We are not going to check every story on
every channel' he said. Not even if his prime minister is going to put his
credibility on the line? Perhaps a sign of the cracks appearing.

Meanwhile Rumsfeld has foolishly ruled out an Arab League call for a
ceasefire.

So the summit is hailed as a success.

But we do not know how long they secretly decided to postpone the final
attack. It sounds as if they discussed no exit strategy but Blair may have
signalled the need.

Chris Burford
London