Comments on: Opinion: What Brown should be saying to Bush

By: James S

James S — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:57:19 +0000

My sixpenneth worth:

1) I wouldn’t go so far as to say we need to push for the negotiated withdrawl of troops from Iraq, although with that as our objective, we should be pushing for a clear (re)statement of the terms for negotiation.

With clarity of positions achieved, confusion over role responsibility is removed and any mandate for action (ie advance OR withdrawl) is enhanced and contentiousness is reduced, thereby making withdrawl more likely and easier to accomplish.

2) That any rendition may be extraordinary is completely unacceptable.

3) The issue of Guantanamo Bay cannot be divided from other camps which are used for similar purpose in East Africa and elsewhere.

By: Chris Paul

Chris Paul — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:23:36 +0000

I think Brown is onto all seven and to be quite blunt does not need Ming to make lists for him. He is a midnight oiler and he has lists coming out of his ears.

By: Sam Payne

Sam Payne — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:10:06 +0000

ahh but there is the ‘rule of three’. If we want to influence President Bush we should utilise the same campaigning techniques we use elsewhere. Three strong messages used repeatedly. The debate is which three should be prioritised.

By: wit and wisdom

wit and wisdom — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 12:05:46 +0000

Ming’s approach is absolutely right. First he’s used the rule of three so his comments are likely to be remembered, at least by some people. Secondly, he has gone for potentially closed ended commitments.

The Palestine/Israel issue is not going to be resolved any time soon, neither is the dispute with Iran or the various problems mentioned.

The ‘wish list’ quoted is very well chosen. This is, after all, Ming’s strongest area by far.