Tonight's Newsnight Special With Tony Blair

[Twink]

Anybody else see this ? I'm really curious what other people thought as dh and I are total New Labour sceptics but we both did feel at ONE point as if TB was putting over genuine feelings and concerns rather than the usual politicising (sp ?) cr*p we usually hear.

Yes, watched it avidly, tho haven't much time now as dh is angling for the computer. Thought TB very much on the back foot to begin with, but as dh pointed out, it was easier for Paxman as he was just the one asking the questions. He did seem to hold his corner well, though, and wasn't distracted by the questions about being a poodle and whether he and bush 'prayed together' (!), which I thought let the other side down a bit.
However, am still concerned that this war is largely led by a spurious american agenda of revenge, and North Korea and Syria, if anything, sound more realistically dangerous than Iraq.
Was somewhat disappointed, though, to notice towards the end that JP's hair was noticably thinning at the back, despite having a full and frank appearance head on. (How trivial am I )

Twink, I know what you mean about his 'genuine feelings' but this is where I think he comes across as a very 'accomplished' actor. It's as though he's failing to convince with his arguments so he goes for the 'aw shucks, hey, I'm just like you, I might get it wrong but I'm trying' In other words, 'Like me, like me, like me'

I really liked the 'praying together' stuff Paxman put to him since I think think Bush's Christian fundamentalism has a lot to do with this. I liked his 'Why are you smiling' question? Why was he smiling? He did make TB look foolish then, I thought.

Wish the audience had been stronger though. I know it would be scary putting questions to the PM on live tv but felt there was some passion lacking.

Yes, also the audience stayed with their original questions rather than adapting them to what had already been said.

Also, did you see this morning's coverage of Donald Rumsveldt, with his 'theatres (or should that be theaters ??) of action' - even neutral countries would be p*ssed at the 'we're the greatest in the world' tone it took. Terrifying.

I agree that TB is a great performer. He did contradict himself on a number of occasions, for instance saying that we cannot stand by and allow this country to invade its neighbours and yet we did nothing when chemical weapons were used against the Iranians in the eighties. In fact, at the time we were actively supplying them.

I am usually taken in by his feigned sincerity but felt there was nothing new to hear really.

And JP definitely is balding, all that testosterone.

Can I just point out that while Bush's so-called christian fundamentalosm does have a lot to do with this, the majority of Christians I know (fundamentalist or otherwise! ) are shocked and horrified at what is going on and are ashamed to be thought of in the same bracket as Bush and his cronies.

Yes, think the 'fundamentalist' agenda is very much clouding the agenda with its insistance on simplistic issues of 'good and evil' . Fear that the argument TB was using about getting rid of Saddam = cutting off the terrorist supply of horrible weopons just didn't stand up (the ricin used to kill Georgi Markov, for example was obtained from the Chelsea Physic Garden; the planes used to demolish the world trade center were owned by American airlines). I'm not saying Saddam isn't an appalling dictator, just that the situation's more complicated than is being presented.
And, yes, it was a shame that the audience didn't follow up on any of their questions (though can understand how intimidating the live TV situation must have been). And we mustn't forget that TB is a very accomplished actor.

And before anyone points out ? yes, I know Markov was in the 70s ? I was just making a point about the latest apparent "weapon of choice" that the media are all talking about.

Did anyone else notice that Tony brought up the Bali bombing as one of the nails in the coffin as to why the attack on Iraq should go ahead? I thought I heard on the news this morning that the attack in Bali was carried out by an Indonesian ? who had no links with Iraq, Al Quaeda or anyone else outside the country ? as was suspected by many at the time. Didn't hear the whole news item, so perhaps someone else has more facts.