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The Iraq War; Dates – TV review The Iraq War; Dates – TV review
(4 months later)
The third episode of The Iraq War (BBC2) brought the conflict up to the present day. Though hardly to a close. On the plus side, Iraq is still as free of weapons of mass destruction as it was a decade ago and the US and the UK have replaced Saddam Hussein with a pro-western prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. On the downside, Maliki has emerged as something of a dictator himself, ruthlessly curbing any opposition to his regime, Iraq is still riven with religious factionalism between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and roughly 180,000 Iraqis have died as result of the violence. I'd say the downside wins.The third episode of The Iraq War (BBC2) brought the conflict up to the present day. Though hardly to a close. On the plus side, Iraq is still as free of weapons of mass destruction as it was a decade ago and the US and the UK have replaced Saddam Hussein with a pro-western prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki. On the downside, Maliki has emerged as something of a dictator himself, ruthlessly curbing any opposition to his regime, Iraq is still riven with religious factionalism between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and roughly 180,000 Iraqis have died as result of the violence. I'd say the downside wins.
There was a slight lack of intensity to this final instalment covering the past seven years, which was probably a fairly accurate reflection of the situation, as each new political initiative appeared to be a yet more cynical variation on the last. It was also noticeable that the number of US and UK talking heads gradually decreased as the hour went on: as it became clearer what a total mess the situation had become, so the west melted away.There was a slight lack of intensity to this final instalment covering the past seven years, which was probably a fairly accurate reflection of the situation, as each new political initiative appeared to be a yet more cynical variation on the last. It was also noticeable that the number of US and UK talking heads gradually decreased as the hour went on: as it became clearer what a total mess the situation had become, so the west melted away.
Some critics have suggested this series should have taken a tougher line with its interviewees: that Blair, Bush, Straw et al should have been more forcibly held to account for their actions rather than left to self-justify. That would have been good theatre but it would also have been improbable: politicians are highly skilled protectors of their own legacy and had this film promised to question them with any rigour, then they almost certainly wouldn't have agreed to take part. And since this documentary wanted to be an authoritative, objective account of the Iraq war, it was more important that the main players were represented in person than that judgment on them be passed.Some critics have suggested this series should have taken a tougher line with its interviewees: that Blair, Bush, Straw et al should have been more forcibly held to account for their actions rather than left to self-justify. That would have been good theatre but it would also have been improbable: politicians are highly skilled protectors of their own legacy and had this film promised to question them with any rigour, then they almost certainly wouldn't have agreed to take part. And since this documentary wanted to be an authoritative, objective account of the Iraq war, it was more important that the main players were represented in person than that judgment on them be passed.
At times this was frustrating, but over the course of the full three hours judgment couldn't help but be passed, albeit indirectly. As the bomb attacks and shootings intensified in Iraq, even the most hawkish western mouthpieces for the war couldn't help but look a little uneasy as they claimed that their goals had been successfully achieved and that stability had been brought to the region. Added to which, you should never overlook the extent to which the desperation of a politician to be considered a player on the world stage can lead him or her to speak inadvertent truths.At times this was frustrating, but over the course of the full three hours judgment couldn't help but be passed, albeit indirectly. As the bomb attacks and shootings intensified in Iraq, even the most hawkish western mouthpieces for the war couldn't help but look a little uneasy as they claimed that their goals had been successfully achieved and that stability had been brought to the region. Added to which, you should never overlook the extent to which the desperation of a politician to be considered a player on the world stage can lead him or her to speak inadvertent truths.
Last night that politician was Jack Straw. Talking about how the US and the UK had grown uneasy about Ibrahim al-Jaafari's ability as PM of the interim government to end the violence in Iraq, he said, "Condi [Condoleezza Rice] and I paid him [Jaafari] a visit" to remind him that: "It's a rough game, politics. And when your time is up, you have to go." These words should come back to haunt Straw: the clearest admission yet from a British politician that post-Saddam Iraq was essentially a post-colonial failed state with a lame-duck leader put in place by the West. Nor did he make any pretence that Jaafari's replacement, Maliki, was anything other than another stooge. So much for Iraqi democracy.Last night that politician was Jack Straw. Talking about how the US and the UK had grown uneasy about Ibrahim al-Jaafari's ability as PM of the interim government to end the violence in Iraq, he said, "Condi [Condoleezza Rice] and I paid him [Jaafari] a visit" to remind him that: "It's a rough game, politics. And when your time is up, you have to go." These words should come back to haunt Straw: the clearest admission yet from a British politician that post-Saddam Iraq was essentially a post-colonial failed state with a lame-duck leader put in place by the West. Nor did he make any pretence that Jaafari's replacement, Maliki, was anything other than another stooge. So much for Iraqi democracy.
Straw may have been one of the few politicians to damn himself out of his own mouth, but the rest made up for it with their actions. The most chilling thing about it all, though, was that the thrill of being at the nexus of power had clearly been so intoxicating that, even knowing now what they didn't know – though they perhaps should have – then, every single one of them would almost certainly do it all over.Straw may have been one of the few politicians to damn himself out of his own mouth, but the rest made up for it with their actions. The most chilling thing about it all, though, was that the thrill of being at the nexus of power had clearly been so intoxicating that, even knowing now what they didn't know – though they perhaps should have – then, every single one of them would almost certainly do it all over.
A much more enjoyable cynicism was to be found in Dates (Channel 4), the new drama series in which the wary and the wounded spar with one another in search of love. Or, failing that, a quick shag. The show is billed as a series of one-off dramas, but in last night's episode Mia, the disconcerting Oona Chaplin, made a more-than-welcome return. Having delivered one of the best comedy lines on TV all year – "He's wearing jeans and a tie: he looks like a Belgian" – about her date, lorry driver Dave, on Monday, she was now out with surgeon Stephen, played by Ben Chaplin. No relation, I hope.A much more enjoyable cynicism was to be found in Dates (Channel 4), the new drama series in which the wary and the wounded spar with one another in search of love. Or, failing that, a quick shag. The show is billed as a series of one-off dramas, but in last night's episode Mia, the disconcerting Oona Chaplin, made a more-than-welcome return. Having delivered one of the best comedy lines on TV all year – "He's wearing jeans and a tie: he looks like a Belgian" – about her date, lorry driver Dave, on Monday, she was now out with surgeon Stephen, played by Ben Chaplin. No relation, I hope.
Mia was on top form, veering seamlessly between the spiky and the vulnerable. So far all we have really learned about her is she was once a £300 escort with an unexpected knowledge of complex medical procedures. A woman whose body is available but whose heart is well-defended. I suspect that Stephen, like Dave, isn't the one for her. It's hard to think of anyone who might be. The safest place to be with Mia is very definitely on this side of a TV screen.Mia was on top form, veering seamlessly between the spiky and the vulnerable. So far all we have really learned about her is she was once a £300 escort with an unexpected knowledge of complex medical procedures. A woman whose body is available but whose heart is well-defended. I suspect that Stephen, like Dave, isn't the one for her. It's hard to think of anyone who might be. The safest place to be with Mia is very definitely on this side of a TV screen.
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