Archive for February 7th, 2010

Two Scotsmen Do Battle, the Truth and the War

Gerry Hassan

February 7th 2010

The many sides of Alastair Campbell were on display on the Andrew Marr Show http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qqzbq/The_Andrew_Marr_Show_07_02_2010/ this Sunday morning. The good, the bad – and the ugly, in a way which will dominate the Monday morning press.

Here he was plugging his latest potboiler novel, ‘Maya’, all oozing charm and charisma, and as the interview ‘segued’ into the Chilcot inquiry, the many other facets of his character emerged. First, there was the fragility, as he paused and took account of himself, the cracks in his psyche opening to reveal the weakness behind the machismo. Then it was on to the combativeness, even nearly challenging Marr about the number of Iraqi dead post-invasion, but realising it better to let that one go.

Campbell like Blair must have some inclination of what they have done and how they are perceived, and the damage they have done to our democratic ways of life, how politicians and civil servants are seen, and our standing in the world (let along the mess in Iraq and impending conflict with Iran if the warmongers in the West get their way). Instead, what one gets from Campbell in full drive, is a Caesar-like personification of how tough it was for him and Tony in the bunker, and particularly making the case for how tough it was for his master. Read the rest of this entry »