EXIT STAGE LEFT..



Well, I said I thought I would be disappointed and I wasn`t wrong.   After four hours of gentle `grilling` by the Chilcot Inquiry yesterday, Tony Blair left the building to pursue his nest feathering, speech giving and legacy searching, in stark contrast to the families of the armed forces personnel present in yesterday`s audience who must forever grieve for their loved ones lost in Blair`s quest to cosy up to, of all people, George W Bush.   But then I guess it takes one to know one.  

I`m not sure we learned anything new yesterday and I suppose we must now await the final report of the Chilcot Inquiry to see what they have made of it all.   It might be a long wait, but hope against hope that it doesn`t turn out to be yet another whitewash job, a la Hutton.

I think the most worrying aspect of yesterday was Blair`s assertion that `we` ought to be taking military action against Iran.   Hasn`t he done enough damage already or is he latching on to the likelihood that the current talks between Iran, the US, Russia, Germany, France, etc., concerning Iran`s nuclear programme look like ending in failure?   As those talks are allegedly led by Baroness Cathy Ashton, the Grand Pooh Bah of European Foreign Policy, then dismal failure looks a good bet.

Quite apart from the Blair theatricals, yesterday`s news seemed to be dominated by the resignation of one Andy Coulson as David Cameron`s Communications Director.   As if anyone in the real world, outside the Westminster bubble, could give a hoot.   Then there was the case of Alan Johnson`s bodyguard being suspended from the police amid allegations that he was having an affair with Mrs. Johnson.   Now, in Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Burlusconi is in trouble with His Popeness for allegedly having affairs all over the eternal city.   Perhaps there`s an opening there for Alan Johnson`s bodyguard to see that Silvio doesn`t get up to any more mischief.

So, all the world`s a stage, that`s for sure and if all the men and women are merely players then maybe some of them should simply leave the stage, exit left and leave the rest of us in peace.