Big News from the UK

First up, Blair and his team of cronies are facing serious pressure from both opposition parties and the legal profession to their own version of the Patriot Act, which would allow detention without charge, among other miscarriages of justice.

First, Blair tried talking it up, Bush-style, throwing around scary images of imminent terrorist attack:
``The aim of this new breed of terrorist is to kill as many people as possible,'' Blair wrote. ``There is no limit on the levels of murder and destruction they want to inflict, on the weapons they will use or on their targets.''
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=aveEoU.safa4&refer=uk

Then, the fight to oppose the bill failed, barely.
"There was also a significant Labour backbench rebellion against the new new Prevention of Terrorism Bill but moves to deny it a second reading were defeated by 316 votes to 216 - a Government majority of 100. "
http://www.itv.com/news/2043503.html

Now, they are looking at a compromise measure:
"Under a planned concession being considered by ministers, the Home Secretary would be able to grant only an interim control order which would have to be approved speedily by a judge.
As currently drafted, the Prevention of Terrorism Bill would allow the Home Secretary to grant an order, which would be subject to a judicial review within seven days."
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=614549

ALSO IN THE UK:
Before the Iraq invasion, Blair sought advice from legal experts as to the legality of the war ininternational law. It has long been known that their initial response was negative, and that he had to shop around a while before finding a 'plausible' argument.

It has now come out that the Blair camp probably wrote the Attorney General's legal advice for the war themselves.

"Iraq legal adviceThe attorney general's advice on the legality of the Iraq war was "his alone", Mr Hain insisted following new allegations that Downing Street drafted the advice. Mr Hain defended Lord Goldsmith saying: "This is old ground." Media reports claimed transcripts of evidence given in private by Lord Goldsmith to an official inquiry suggested the advice - presented to parliament in his name - was written for him by two of Tony Blair's closest allies."