Stalingrad - it's official

[Chris Burford]

The British correspondent who was the source for concerns that this could 
turn into another Stalingrad, has turned out to be none other than Andrew 
Marr, the senior BBC political correspondent, who is at the height of his 
prestige and communicating ability.

It is clear that Alistair Campbell deliberately dropped this word to him, 
in the plane as Blair flew to meet Bush.

This is the highest level evidence there could be, short of being on the 
record, that Blair has flown to Washington because he fears another Stalingrad.

Chris Burford

London



Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 07:50:23 +0000

From: Chris Burford <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: "Stalingrad"
That word again!

the BBC reporter in the USA (Washington?) this morning .......quoting one 
of the correspondents on the plane with Blair saying "there are concerns 
this could turn into another Stalingrad".

This would have been a briefing deliberately off the record, so that the 
reporter could not use it directly. He/she might get punished by having 
fewer minutes of private consultation with Alistair Campbell or Tony Blair 
on the next flight for leaking this. But then again he or she may have 
done what was expected - got off the plane, palled up with the BBC 
reporter in Washington, and chatted. Everything off the record, everything 
unattributable.

But Rumsfeld, cough, cough, is facing Stalingrad.