My boyhood friend is a rapper

Bliar

And now it is being revealed by the Iraq inquiry that Britain doubted the existence of WMDs: that Saddam's chemical weaponry was probably not even battle ready. At the hearing it was admitted that Iraq's ties to the terrorist threat were tenuous and that North Korea, Iran and Libya were considered more dangerous states. In short we went to war at the behest of the USA - which I thought was no bad thing given the sacrifices the USA made in WW2. There was a debt of honour. I also think there was a belief that the popularity of Gulf One would be repeated in Gulf Two.

At the time I was uncertain about the whole WMD business, but certainly thought that taking out Saddam was no bad thing. I also believed - erroneously as it turned out - that we had a firm plan for reconstruction in place. Maybe something like a mini Marshall plan. We didn't and, for the British, our army in Iraq went on to become guardians of Basra, which they were not trained or equipped to be. That control was lost there was, with the benefit of hindsight, predictable. At its worse, the army simply became the guardians of Basra airport. It's a sorry tale and I wonder how historians will judge it: poorly I would suggest.

Meanwhile, I now look back at Blair's actions in the lead up to the war as a terrible abuse of the position of Prime Minister. For this, if nothing else, he should be held to account.

Old Moon

I've been ill these last few days and really ill today. I managed to stumble into work and then stumble home.

Having slept for an age, I shambled about and then watched a movie I'd rented called 'Moon' - no not 'New Moon' but 'Moon'. I really enjoyed it: the script was brilliant and the sets very good. It was a sci-fi movie that made you think: not like the usual CGI pap that gets spewed out. The budget was a mere $5 million, which is nothing in movie terms I'm told: I have to say it looks more like a $50 million movie.

Earlier in the week I met some of my Polish friends. Some could not make it, which was sad. But it was a happy time nonetheless. Mind you, they forced me to drink two shots of 70% Plum Brand that could blow your socks off. We all chatted and talked and I realised how unfortunate it was that I'd not been able to visit more often this year.

There are still so many people I need to interview: their stories need to be recorded in English and given a platform for other to read...

Selfish

Today at the eleventh hour no one in my office that I could see stopped to mark the armistice.

What can you say about this?