Indeed, Blair set out his case along the lines you suggested in the other reply, that the authority under 678 was revived. This is the advice that Goldsmith, the UK Attorney General gave, but refused (and still refuses) to give his rationale behind his decision. I find that curious - if his case is so bombproof, as it were, why not publish his rationale? Particularly since many lawyers disagree that the resurrection of 678 is valid; for the counter arguments to Goldsmith, see, eg,
Without Goldsmith's full advice being published, I find it hard to agree that the war was lawful. (I may still think the same were he to publish the advice, of course). An unlawful action, even if it were made for the best intentions, still leaves me squirming uncomfortably.
I will NEVER argue that point -- this whole war is an uncomfortable thing for me, too. And, not because it is potentially illegal, but because of the previously argued idea that pre-emptive action, once justified in the world, leads to war on all sides. ::ugh::
Remember, though, that the advice of the magistrates/laywers in the UK could be couched in intelligence we are not at liberty to know, so the reasoning may be understood or revealed at the appropriate levels, but not to the masses. That's the only "out" I see, but I'll have to go with it for the time being (the whole point of the House of Commons is to debate the hell out of stuff, so if he didn't present his logic, his arguments would have been tossed on their ear just on general principle).
Thanks for those alternative points, btw... I'll be reviewing them for office discussion (I'm often the intermediary between radical right proponents and the one voice of the left when they have lunchtime vocal altercations)
no subject
Date: 2004-07-29 05:57 pm (UTC)http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page3287.asp
no subject
Date: 2004-07-30 01:54 am (UTC)http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3522807.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theissues/article/0,6512,913589,00.html
Without Goldsmith's full advice being published, I find it hard to agree that the war was lawful. (I may still think the same were he to publish the advice, of course). An unlawful action, even if it were made for the best intentions, still leaves me squirming uncomfortably.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-31 09:20 am (UTC)Remember, though, that the advice of the magistrates/laywers in the UK could be couched in intelligence we are not at liberty to know, so the reasoning may be understood or revealed at the appropriate levels, but not to the masses. That's the only "out" I see, but I'll have to go with it for the time being (the whole point of the House of Commons is to debate the hell out of stuff, so if he didn't present his logic, his arguments would have been tossed on their ear just on general principle).
Thanks for those alternative points, btw... I'll be reviewing them for office discussion (I'm often the intermediary between radical right proponents and the one voice of the left when they have lunchtime vocal altercations)