Tony Blair created a committee to review the incredible failings of the British Intelligence services regarding Iraq's alleged possession of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The committee was charged with investigating "the accuracy of intelligence on Iraqi WMD up to March 2003, and to examine any discrepancies between the intelligence gathered, evaluated and used by the Government before the conflict, and between that intelligence and what has been discovered by the Iraq Survey Group since the end of the conflict."
TKID4 gave Tone-Loc credit at the time for bringing transparency to the British Government. Then he saw a photo of the committee.
http://www.butlerreview.org.uk/index.asp
Why does this look more like a middle-aged Brit swingers convention locked out of their rooms at Fawlty Towers than a top level oversight panel? Two of the guys look to have died under the PM Wilson administration, but nobody told them. Then there is the stereotypical brit with the biggest goddamn eyebrows in the world, not to mention he's a dead ringer for Ed Asner.
TKID4 knows better than to judge a man by his looks or pulse rate. So he reviewed the committee member bios. Here is a sampling:
Rt Hon The Lord Butler of Brockwell, KG., GCB., CVO.
Lord Butler of Brockwell became Master of University College, Oxford following his retirement as Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service in January 1998. Born in 1938, he was educated at Harrow School and University College, Oxford, where he read Greats and played rugby for the University.
In 1961 he joined the Treasury where he served as Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary in 1964 and Secretary of the Budget Committee from 1965 to 1969. He was a Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Edward Heath from 1972 to 1974, and Mr Harold Wilson from 1974 to 1975. In 1975 he returned to the Treasury as an Assistant Secretary, and then became Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher from 1982 to 1985. In 1988 he was appointed as Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service.
He was knighted (KCB) in 1988, and became GCB in 1992. In 1998 he was created a Life Peer and in 2003 he was awarded the Knight of the Garter (KG). In 1999 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords.
Lord Butler, who is married with three children, has just finished many years as Chairman of the Governors of Dulwich College. His leisure activities include golf and such other competitive games as he can still manage.
First of all, what is with all the titles? KCB, KG, CVO...What does a guy in the Americas have to do to get a groovy set of titles like that?
TKID don't see much experience with weapons, paramilitary operations, Islam, middle eastern languages, comparative politics, or electronic warfare. But the "right honourable Lord" did play rugby in the 50's and "can still manage" to play golf. Thank St. George for that.
TKID knows we all feel safer knowing Lord Butler is on the case. Keep in mind he is the committee chair, so take my word for it, the other members qualifications go downhill from here.
But wait, TKID should hold his opinions until all the intelligence...errr...facts are in. Lord Butler agrees, and has asked each one of us to answer the call and provide his committee, c/o the Greater London Geriatric and Cadavor Drop-Off Clinic, all the top secret clandestine Iraqi WMD program intelligence we have. So, in addition to "taking oral evidence from a number of witnesses at its own invitation" the committee "invites anyone who has information that might assist it in considering its remit to submit evidence by 31 March 2004." TKID2 told me he just went through his pile of late 90's skin mags. He didnt turn up any sarin gas.
Anyways, we missed the deadline. TKID4 might as well shelve this photo of Saddam riding an anthrax-tipped scud bare back. Lord Butler's deadlines must be kept to.
Media queries relating to the Butler Review should be directed to Cabinet Office Press Office, telephone 020 7276 0436/0174. Ask for Lord Butler directly. Or his embalmer.
