Justin Webb's America

In need of a lawyer

• Justin Webb
• 5 Dec 07, 02:35 PM GMT

A day spent at the Pentagon - I lined up to go through security with folks on a Bible study mission - focuses the mind once again on war.

I had a very interesting conversation with a senior soldier about blogging. He is encouraging his mid-rank officers to do it; be open about who you are, they are told, but do not be afraid to take part in the conversation. I intend to get them on this site before long.

Meanwhile, I agree with Huw Spanner, who points out the potential circularity of international law when it comes to the justification for acting in self defence. It was my friend Owen Bennett Jones, of BBC World Service radio, who inveigled Kofi Annan - then UN Secretary General - to come out and say plainly that the Iraq war was illegal.

But what does it really mean? Is John Warner right? (Senator, is that you?) We need a lawyer. I never thought I would say that while living this side of the pond.

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