Blair At Chilcott - Two Thoughts

I could write volumes in the wake of the slug trail left behind by Blair's appearance at Chilcott yesterday. Much of it has been brilliantly covered in the Guardian and the Independent. Even the Daily Mail hasn't missed him, although for reasons of their own. I will restrict my own, less voluble and articulate, comments to two.

1. Blair, among many other howlers, stated that Paul Bremer, the post invasion Bush-appointed proconsul in Baghdad did 'a pretty good job'. This makes Blair the only person in the world with a good word for Bremer. His reckless and stupid disbanding of the Iraqi Army and Civil Service was a huge contributor to the escalation of the chaos. The financial irregularities, running into billions, have been adequately reported elsewhere. Blair thinks this is 'pretty good', giving an insight to one of his main traits - ignorance.
2. Blair admitted that there were 'conversations' with Israelis at the fateful meeting with George Bush at his Crawford Ranch in 2002. This is a new revelation. For 'conversations' you can read consultations. This was clearly a 'Council of War' with Israel, as always, the eminence grise in the background.
Blair thinks he's off the hook now. Somehow I doubt it. History doesn't forgive.