I have just watched the best episode of Question Time, ever. My faith in humanity has been restored.
It was a special debate on the Iraq War; the panel consisted of Tony Benn, the veteran socialist; Benazir Bhutto, the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan; John Bolton, the neoconservative former US Ambassador to the UN; Charles Kennedy, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats; Des Brown, the Secretary of State for Defence; and his opposite Conservative number, Liam Fox.
Tony Benn and Charles Kennedy were characteristically spineless, demonstrating opposition to war as a matter of principle, easily talking about how evil Saddam was yet, of course, not having the guts or conviction to do something about it. The other four panelists - particularly John Bolton, who was so refreshingly straight-talking - were excellent.
But the real source of inspiration wasn't those four - great though they were. It was the audience. Never before on Question Time have I seen an audience so wise, so principled and so outstandingly brave. One woman, near the end, said that Bush and Blair should be recognised as very brave, because "when good men do nothing then evil prevails." Another man, at the beginning of the show, said that it's all very well to say we should rely on the UN, but it never has the strength to actually do anything and so the burden falls on us to ensure security and liberty - which of course are linked, not opposites - around the world. He was absolutely right.
And, for the first time on Question Time, such bold, principled views were applauded to shouts of 'hear hear'. The quality of debate was outstanding: we had the Syrian Ambassador to the UK, citizens from Iraq (most of whom supported the war), a representative of the Iraqi government. The hall was packed with wise, clear-thinking people, not blind anti-war protestors who think sitting back is better because it's easy. Even those who opposed the war were informed: the mother of a deceased soldier and an Iraqi immigrant spring to mind.
I feel like weeping golden tears of joy and dancing in the streets. My confidence in people has been restored, my conviction for the war's justification increased. I am so glad to see exceptionally experienced people, such as Former Prime Minister Bhutto, telling us that we take our freedom for granted, and only miss it when it's gone, and John Bolton standing up and speaking common sense against the vitriolic bile that came from the hideously anti-West socialist relic Tony Benn.
Whether you support the war or not, I urge you to watch the episode on the BBC website. It is, quite simply, awe inspiring.
Published by The Culture Warrior
on Thursday, 22 March 2007 at 16:54. It was a special debate on the Iraq War; the panel consisted of Tony Benn, the veteran socialist; Benazir Bhutto, the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan; John Bolton, the neoconservative former US Ambassador to the UN; Charles Kennedy, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats; Des Brown, the Secretary of State for Defence; and his opposite Conservative number, Liam Fox.
Tony Benn and Charles Kennedy were characteristically spineless, demonstrating opposition to war as a matter of principle, easily talking about how evil Saddam was yet, of course, not having the guts or conviction to do something about it. The other four panelists - particularly John Bolton, who was so refreshingly straight-talking - were excellent.
But the real source of inspiration wasn't those four - great though they were. It was the audience. Never before on Question Time have I seen an audience so wise, so principled and so outstandingly brave. One woman, near the end, said that Bush and Blair should be recognised as very brave, because "when good men do nothing then evil prevails." Another man, at the beginning of the show, said that it's all very well to say we should rely on the UN, but it never has the strength to actually do anything and so the burden falls on us to ensure security and liberty - which of course are linked, not opposites - around the world. He was absolutely right.
And, for the first time on Question Time, such bold, principled views were applauded to shouts of 'hear hear'. The quality of debate was outstanding: we had the Syrian Ambassador to the UK, citizens from Iraq (most of whom supported the war), a representative of the Iraqi government. The hall was packed with wise, clear-thinking people, not blind anti-war protestors who think sitting back is better because it's easy. Even those who opposed the war were informed: the mother of a deceased soldier and an Iraqi immigrant spring to mind.
I feel like weeping golden tears of joy and dancing in the streets. My confidence in people has been restored, my conviction for the war's justification increased. I am so glad to see exceptionally experienced people, such as Former Prime Minister Bhutto, telling us that we take our freedom for granted, and only miss it when it's gone, and John Bolton standing up and speaking common sense against the vitriolic bile that came from the hideously anti-West socialist relic Tony Benn.
Whether you support the war or not, I urge you to watch the episode on the BBC website. It is, quite simply, awe inspiring.
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