If truth, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, it is doubtful whether absolute truth exists.  Those disseminating information usually have a vested interest in presenting it in a certain light, and so choice of language, context, and omissions take on an importance equal to the stated facts.  Hence the existence of the world’s second-oldest profession.

When Saddam Hussein had his power stripped away following his invasion of Kuwait his one remaining weapon was information; or not to put too fine a point on it, mis-information.  He needed his neighbours to believe that he was still powerful, and no doubt he gained a certain perverse pleasure in fooling his old enemies in the west.  The Iraqi people may or may not have attached much credence to the posturing and rumours.  Perhaps his neighbours believed, but if so they did not show signs of panic.  But Bush and Blair, and their advisors, were either totally gullible or had their own reasons for overlooking the weaknesses in their ‘intelligence’.

The British and American public allowed themselves to be persuaded by their elected governments.  We recognised a certain spin in the way the ‘facts’ were handed out to us, but for the most part we didn’t question our leaders’ integrity or judgement.  Now that we are belatedly asking questions, Mr Bush seems disinterested and Mr Blair seems incensed.  More amazingly, Mr Campbell, the man whose job it is to spin for the British media, is deeply offended that he should be accused of spinning.

In the UK the Government has successfully diverted attention from the real issue, and we are being asked to measure the integrity of Mr Blair against that of the BBC.  We are in danger of spinning out of control.  But regardless of which documents and dossiers can be relied upon, there is one uncomfortable fact.  Saddam Hussein was totally incapable of defending himself, and no thinking person can now believe that he represented a threat to his neighbours or the west.  This view is supported by the secondary fact that for months prior to the war, and in subsequent months, no weapons of mass destruction have been found.  And we are now facing a third uncomfortable but predictable fact:  American-style democracy is not what the Islamic people of Iraq want.

There has been much debate about the real motives for war.  There is no doubt that the USA benefits by access to Iraqi oil and a new democratic consumer market.  The fact that US troops went to guard the oil industry headquarters and left the nuclear plant to the looters is an indication of their priorities.  

But whether or not our governments acted without integrity is almost irrelevant.  Exercising poor judgement and going to war on flimsy and false evidence is just as damning for the leader of a world power.  As the world moves towards a more civilised society there can be no place for war, except, perhaps, as a last resort.  The war wanted so much by Bush and Blair, condemning all those who opposed them, was anything but a last resort.

Perhaps when you have absolute power, surrounded by sycophants and weak opponents, you eventually believe your own spin.  Perhaps even Bush and Blair will never know the whole truth, but apologies for their ill-judged actions might make a repeat performance less likely.  Absolute truth might not exist but, like absolute beauty, it is a worthwhile goal.