While mourning is genuine (including for the 19,000 children who die of malnutrition and related diseases in a world of plenty every day) there were many indications yesterday that the commemorations of Sept 11th were being choreographed for a world wide audience to prepare for war on Iraq. Very clear on breakfast television in London
The result of the internal battle is now clear: within the Bush administration, the multilaterialists have won, with the help of Tony Blair - the USA should not go it alone, or if it does, it should not be until after trying to appeal to the United Nations for support. Bush closing the ceremonies with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop. Stretching the vow to avenge terrorism to a vow to attack tyrants with weapons of mass destruction. The timing of the announcement yesterday of the move of an operational centre to Qataar (sp?). The timing today, of the Bush speech to the United nations. The British defence minister being at the Pentagon commemorations yesterday; the announcement yesterday by Blair that he will recall Parliament for a debate on Iraq; the announcement today after meeting the leaders of the other two main British parties, of which day that will be - thereby keeping the story in the papers two days running, and coinciding with Bush's speech to the UN. Sheer Alistair Campbell choreography. In which the religious and quasi religious images which are too sensitive to question, are all part of the politics of preparing for war. Very tricky for the left to counter this without in the first place analysing the steps, and secondly being prepared to divert the message, at some risk of violent counterattack. Is it a good thing that Blair and the multilateralists have won? I do not know. Would there be less likelihood of war if Blair had not beavered around and instead left Bush to contemplate paranoid unilateral action? I do not know. But there is a religious and a symbolic process going on here as well as news management. Iraq is being lined up to pay the "blood price" for September 11 even though there is no evidence that it was connected. The symbolic and mystical logic may be more powerful than any other logic. Besides, if we do not think about that, there would be nothing to distract us from the fact that the world is sliding towards a general recession. Chris Burford London
