British Apology Or Cop-out?

Does Britain’s apology over American “extraordinary rendition” flights through its territory imply London’s deepening shift from Washington’s approach to the war on terror?
Tony Blair’s departure as prime minister was precipitated by perceptions that he had become the Bush administration’s appendage. For Britons – and the rest of the world –Gordon Brown’s elevation to the premiership was expected to bring definite signs of a policy departure.
The latest shift – if that is what it is – is hardly credible. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s assertion that London did not really know what Washington was really up to is incredulous.
For Washington, the rendition operation was so crucial to the war on terror that it considered justified to fly detainees to places where American law would not apply, specifically vis-à-vis torture. There was an obvious imperative of secrecy on the part of an administration that perfected it to an art.
Yet it is preposterous to suggest that Washington did not seek London’s permission before embarking on such a sweeping move. From the outset, statements from Blair claiming “no evidence that rendition flights had stopped on UK territory” were considered misleading. He paid the price.
London seems intent on holding the Bush administration responsible for “lying.” Prime Minister Gordon Brown cannot expect to be left off the hook. He was a key member of the Blair cabinet. If he and/or other ministers counseled Blair against toeing Washington’s line so diligently, then he would do well to explain that in public.
If, on the other hand, he did not really know what was going on, then that would raise questions about his competence.