Tony Blair - the big bambooz-a-ler

I'm not quite sure what anyone was expecting from TB's appearance at the Chilcott Inquiry yesterday. Surely they were not expecting an admission from him that there was any possibility that there was any course of action other than the one he'd taken over the Iraq War. Tony Blair has not wavered once in the years since the decision was taken. No matter what the developments, no matter the how many innocent victims lost their lives, their limbs, their loved ones, no matter what - he has never flinched, never conceded that there was any way but his way. So anyone expecting any change in attitude yesterday was always going to be sorely disappointed.

What we MIGHT have been entitled to expect was for Chilcott et al not to allow Blair to dazzle them and for their questioning to be more robust. But sadly it didn't happen. I thought it was well summed up by this article in the Times Online and the headline:

"Like a lizard on a rock, Tony Blair absorbed heat and began to glow."

Here's my assessment of Tony Blair's performance - note I borrowed the words, didn't make them up myself. However they could've been written for yesterday's appearance.


Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate

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Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bread and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you got no talents?
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise!

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Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Back since the days of old Methuselah
Everyone loves the big bambooz-a-ler

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Give 'em the old Double whammy
When you're in trouble, go into your dance
Though you are stiffer than a girder
They let ya get away with a murder
Razzle dazzle 'em
Razzle dazzle 'em
Razzle dazzle 'em
And you've got a romance