Britain: the political issues underlying the Hutton Inquiry

Britain: the political issues underlying the Hutton Inquiry
By Julie Hyland
11 August 2003

<snip>

Differences between the intelligence services and the Blair government over the decision to go to war with Iraq—compounded by the post-war failure to find WMD and growing resistance from the Iraqi people—became the flash point for a whole series of conflicts that had been developing over a protracted period.

In essence, these concern the basic strategy of British imperialism—above all, whether Britain should continue its role as America’s loyal but junior partner, or orient itself in a more determined manner towards Europe. These issues have long vexed the British ruling class and divided the establishment. That they should spill over in such a way as to openly split the state apparatus is bound up with profound social and political processes.

<snip>

The traditional norms of democratic procedure have been vitiated. Alienated from the broad masses, the old bourgeois parties have atrophied into little more than adjuncts of the state bureaucracy. The Conservative Party is a moribund rump, whilst Labour’s disavowal of any connection with the social interests of workers has led to the erosion of its former working class base.

<snip>

The old relations and structures that upheld the rule of British capital for decades are breaking down. In the insulated and rarified atmosphere of official politics, all manner of intrigues and subjective hatreds can thrive and erupt under the force of external pressures. Such a point has now been reached. Compounding the internationally destabilising impact of the Bush administration’s “war against terror” is a growing world economic crisis that is directly impacting on Britain and undermining Blair’s reputation as a safe pair of hands for the corporate elite.

....

http://wsws.org/articles/2003/aug2003/hutt-a11.shtml

Of what she says is true, but her verbiage reads like a transcript of the old, communist Radio Albania. You could viciously torture someone by making them listen to that stuff.

Well, I think that's a bit of a stretch.

Makes perfect sense to me...

Actually sheds some light on the Blair situation. Will the ruling class dump him or not? Same question applies over here,re: Shrub, IMHO.