John Reid used to have a reputation as Tony Blair’s firefighter. The person to send into a government department to sort it out. Then after the 2005 election, the macho Scot was given the macho job in government – Minister of Defence. The change in the UK’s geopolitical standpoint over that period has remained broadly unchanged – engagements continue in Iraq, Afghanistan etc., and especially the Iraq conflict continues to be a drag on the government. Yet, instead he has gone off on a rant about how international law hinders UK troops – see this from the Guardian. What does he think he is doing? Surely the best thing to do would be to keep a low profile on this? Everyone already thinks the government more or less deceived the population and avoided the UN over Iraq, and now John Reid says the rules should be changed to allow governments to do just that. So, so silly.