Robin Cook ... Still Talking
Robin Cook, the British cabinet minister that resigned because he didn't agree w/ the war in Iraq is still talking. "They owe us an explanation why the resistance has been greater than planned for and they owe British troops an explanation of how they are going to take Baghdad without further casualties."
To the first part of the statement, I'd agree. Though the answer is pretty easy - Almost 85% of the British soldiers killed so far in Iraq have died in accidents or "friendly fire. That fact rather disputes Cook's claim that the resistance has been greater than 'planned for'. Greater than the news analysists expected - yes; but not greater than the military planned for.
The 2nd part - taking Baghdad without casualties is just plan idiocy. Its a war. People will die. Even if all but 1% of the Iraqi Republican Guard surrenders, that 1% will kill someone. For Cook to make that statement just shows that he's not seriously interested in the answer - he's looking to score 'gotcha' points by asking questions from a ridiculous premise.
And then the big finish: Mr Cook said that US President George W Bush and his Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did not appear to know what to do now that their hopes that Iraq would swiftly capitulate had proved unfounded.
To the first part of the statement, I'd agree. Though the answer is pretty easy - Almost 85% of the British soldiers killed so far in Iraq have died in accidents or "friendly fire. That fact rather disputes Cook's claim that the resistance has been greater than 'planned for'. Greater than the news analysists expected - yes; but not greater than the military planned for.
The 2nd part - taking Baghdad without casualties is just plan idiocy. Its a war. People will die. Even if all but 1% of the Iraqi Republican Guard surrenders, that 1% will kill someone. For Cook to make that statement just shows that he's not seriously interested in the answer - he's looking to score 'gotcha' points by asking questions from a ridiculous premise.
And then the big finish: Mr Cook said that US President George W Bush and his Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did not appear to know what to do now that their hopes that Iraq would swiftly capitulate had proved unfounded.
# | March 30, 2003