Preston Squaddie McLaughlin

When I met Steven McLaughlin I would not have guessed he was an ex rifleman to Iraq. I'd never met a soldier before, at least not till a few weeks before and he certainly didn't come across as someone I could picture in an army uniform with a gun in his hand. His casual attire and composed demeanour did not exactly spell out soldier.

When I first spoke to him on the phone I had deduced he was a man who had battled more than the unknown enemies on Iraqi soil, someone with very strong opinions and a recently published book that said it all. I was trawling across the internet for squaddies in the public eye when I tripped over a mention of his book, 'Squaddie, A Soldior's Story.

I got in touch with the publisher who passed on his details and soon I was sitting in the radio booth in the department newsroom struggling to hear what he was saying about the secrecy, the former prime minister and why he thought this inquiry was a waste of tax payers money, over a crackly phone line. The call left me curious about why the name Al Sadr was not a name I'd heard before and wondering whether Iraq was really heading towards a new dictatorship. I realised that he probably did have some useful insights that I could use and a trip up to Preston might just be worth my while.

And so, a few weeks later there I was seated face to face with the Squaddie himself at Preston public library, feeling like an undercover agent as we talked in hushed whispers and lowered voices inviting suspicious looks from passers by as we discussed Iraq , the war and the current controversy surrounding the inquiry and the speculation of a whitewash inquiry that had been making headlines of late.

I wasn't sure how much of the interview I would be able to use without breaching libel and slander laws that make the media laws in this country so stringent (but are crucial to ensure objective and impartial reporting) and how I could present his views without making the piece sound like a sounding board for anti-war and anti-Blair camp opinions. It was going to be a challenge I would have to deal with soon enough but for now I was going back to London with my interview and my copy of Squaddie which I hoped would shed some light on what happened in Iraq and the barracks, things the public couldn't see.....and it did in a sense.

So if you want a colourful but real look at the life of a Squaddie then Squaddie a Soldier's Story might be of interest.

See: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Squaddie-Soldiers-Story-Steven-McLaughlin/dp/1845961455

Consequences for the US?

This inquiry could have implications across the Atlantic. Professor Michael Codner military expert at RUSI London said there are two ways this inquiry could progress which would determine whether or not it has any impact on the United States.

Listen here to what he feels the possible outcomes could be for the US

US-UK 'special relationship'

Many politicians have expressed the need for the inquiry to examine the so called 'special relationship' between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Prof. Michael Codner, Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, London explains why the 'special relationship' is key to the Iraq war decision.

Inquiry Impact on Mr Blair?

In an interview with Professor Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute London I asked him what he felt this inquiry would mean for Tony Blair. He didn't think at the time that it would have much of an impact on his life.
"He’s obviously got his middle east envoy position , but that may be the sort of thing which might be difficult for him to continue doing if international arena he is portrayed as someone who did immoral or illegal things while he was in that position but that’s a matter for him and whichever entity he is involved in. It certainly rather discredits his charitable trust that he's set up but people live through all of that.He’ll need to write a book" said Codner.

Listen here to what he said...

Inquiry Impact on Brown's career

Before the Inquiry began and the General Election was still many months away I asked Professor Michael Codner at the Royal United Services Institute London what he felt the repercussions of this inquiry would be for Gordon Brown who was Prime Minister at the time. He felt that would depend on the outcome of the inquiry which could be.....

Listen here to Michael Codner's anecdote...

More about the panel and Q's?

The inquiry panel includes
- war historian Sir Martin Gilbert
- historian of recent conflicts and strageic analyst Sir Lawrence Freedman
- Chairman of the Joint Human Rights Committee Baroness Usha Prashar
- former British Ambassador to Moscow Sir Roderic Lyne.

Experience
Some of the members have previously commented on the war and none of them have military or governmental experience. MP William Hague said he sees potential problems with that because "much of the inquiry's scope will be either military in nature" or it will examine "decision making processes at the highest level of government".

But Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at RUSI said it would be difficult to be find the right military person because those who would have the requisite experience and expertise to carry out such an investigation have been "heavily embroiled in criticising the government". He felt that having historians is useful because it will help put the issues into a broader context.

Expertise
There have been concerns raised about the lack of legal expertise on the panel. Professor Nick Grief said, "I would have liked to see the inquiry chaired by someone like Lord Bingham, the retired law lord".

He said the legal aspect is crucial because no inquiry has yet come to any conclusion about the legality of the war.But the panel will have experts to advise them and Sir John has already started identifying people who he feels have the requisite knowledge to assist them in their investigation.

End of the Iraq chapter?

This inquiry may not close the lid on the Iraq discussion for Britain say experts. Nick Grief, professor of international law at the University of Bournemouth said " historians will go on writing and thinking about and discussing iraq for many years come".

He said the Iraq war decision will be studied by law students as a case for examining the importance of the rule of law. The Iraq war was a major invasion by the only remaining super power in the world and some of its closest allies which he believes 'lacked the necessary legal authority', which he said is why it won't be forgotten.
 
Evidence 
The Inquiry has launched its own website so anyone who feels they have information which may help can contact the panel. It also provides background information about the Inquiry. Chairman of the panel Sir John Chilcot says 'this inquiry is aiming for maximum transparency' and 'are hoping to televise the hearings through streaming on the internet'. The evidence received will be out in the open for people to see. Journalist Chris Ames said this could help verify the authenticity of evidence already in the public domain by way of leaks.

Conclusion?
What the inquiry's conclusion will be is something we'll have to wait till after the general election to see.


 

Legality of the War

This inquiry could help learn lessons about respecting the rule of law. Professor Nick Grief an expert on International law at the University of Bournemouth at the time I spoke to him said "unless it does the inquiry will not not be serving its purpose".

He said this inquiry must provide answers to the legal issues...

The Peace Rights Inquiry

Prof.Nick Grief an expert on International Law the University of Bournemouth was also a member of the Peace Rights Inquiry, an informal inquiry  into the Iraq War.
He explained to me just what happened at that inquiry...

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The moral aspect of war

The legal aspect of this highly controversial war is no doubt an area that mandates close examination but Prof. Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute London says the moral issues are just as important. He feels that legality and morality are not exceptions but two related concepts. But what has morality got to do with this inquiry? ... one may ask.

Codner believes it's because the moral aspect of this military endeavour is what makes this war different from other wars. He says "the moral aspect of going to war, the actual how does a government make a decision morally to go to war and then how does the public evaluate the morality has come on the front burner very much since that war."

Policy change VS Blame

In an interview with Professor Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at RUSI London he stressed that the outcome of this Iraq Inquiry could have implications for defense policy and the ministry of defense.
"It could influence the way the ministry of defence behaves and how defence, foreign and security policy is presented" said Codner. He believes that the inquiry should seek to improve British policy and not focus on apportioning blame.

Rumsfeld & Cheny and the Iraq War

Pro war MP David Blunkett said said it would be useful if the the Inquiry could speak to key U.S.personnel.“There are some very big questions about the decisions made by Donald Rumsfeld And Dick Cheney” he said.

Learning lessons

Prime minister Gordon Brown and foreign secretary David Miliband have been emphasising that the purpose of this inquiry is to 'learn lessons' and 'make Britain's democracy, military and diplomacy stronger'. The Inquiry is not aiming to prepare the ground for further prosecutions and it's not a court of law but it can criticise or blame whoever it deems appropriate without there being any civil or criminal liability for the person who is blamed.

Nick Grief an expert in international law at the University of Bournemouth said that criminal proceedings are not the only way of holding people to account. He said "public opinion is a much more powerful way especially when you're dealing with politicians who care very much about their legacy. Courts of law have their place and they are not the be all and end all".

This inquiry could help learn lessons about respecting the rule of law. Professor Nick Grief ,said "unless it does the inquiry will not not be serving its purpose". Nick Grief was a member of the Peace Rights Inquiry and recently spoke on the legality of the war at a UN Conference on Iraq held in London. He said this inquiry must provide answers to the legal issues.


This inquiry could also help improve military missions elsewhere. Investigative Journalist Chris Ames who uncovered the first full draft of the 'sexed up dossier' of evidence used to make a case for war in Iraq feels that there may be lessons learnt that could be useful for the operations in Afghanistan.

A Whitewash? A U-Turn?

Going back to the Summer of 2009....

The Inquiry's hearings began last autumn with the families of ex service personnel to Iraq giving evidence. The former Prime Minister Tony Blair was also called in to give evidence at this inquiry about which there has been speculation and varied expectations from 'a whitewash' to 'a way forward'


The Prime Minister had initially planned to have an inquiry that would take all the evidence in private which was met with severe criticism across the country forcing the government to make a u-turn.The Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague described it as " a u-turn executed in stages as painful to watch as a learner driver trying to take a six point turn having started off the wrong way down a motorway". Sir John then said the inquiry would be held in public except in cases where it poses a threat to national security.

Private inquiry?

MP Jo Swinson felt that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown wanted the inquiry to be held in private.She said "I can see why they did it.It was a dreadful decision and they were both at the heart of it.Gordon Brown signed the cheques and Tony Blair was chief cheerleader for George Bush" she said.
trust

"Trust in politics is already hugely damaged by the expenses scandal and it really doesn't need a further beating which it would get from holding an inquiry in private" she said on the eve of the debate in parliament about the Inquiry's nature and scope. By having a public inquiry though,"our democracy will be strengthened" she said.

Iraq Inquiry A Catalyst for Change?

Iraq Inquiry could pave the way for 'constitutional change' said Military Scientist Michael Codner at the Royal United Services Institute London

A public Inquiry into Britain's involvement in Iraq is underway. It is being led by one of Britain's former top civil servants Sir John Chilcot, who was also a member a previous inquiry into the use of intelligence led by Lord Butler.

This Inquiry could influence the equation the government has with the people of Britain. Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute in London Professor Michael Codner said "The Inquiry that was highly critical of the decisions could be a catalyst for the process of rebuilding trust".
constitutional Change

If the inquiry recommends changes for government decision making it could pave the way for 'constitutional change' which would influence military operations in the future said Codner.Under the current system the prime minister can commit forces in advance of an operation because he does not require the consent of parliament which makes it possible to carry out expeditions.

He explained, “The Prime Minister is wise to have a vote in parliament at some point but he is not required to. If you change that and say that parliament must assent before forces are committed then it makes it extremely difficult for the United Kingdom ever to commit forces in a procative way.”

This in turn could have an impact on Britain's involvement in an operation."We would have no influence over the initiation process and therefore we would just be making a moral contribution” he said.

Iraq Inquiry MA Broadcast - Finally!

After several sleepless nights in the Information Commons at the University of Sheffield, long days glued to the screen in the corner of the newsroom with my headset, countless debates with my logic and editorial conscience and emails and discussions with my professor Mark Hanna on what was impartial and objective and what wasn't I finally had about 14 minutes of radio that I now realise answered questions that the big news media began asking when the inquiry actually took off.

The story had moved fast, so when I started off I was looking at the Public vs Private Inquiry debate but as Blunkett said the 'world had changed dramatically over these last few days' which was in reference t the the day before I arrived to the days before I left it was true . The focus of my story had changed the course of my investigation which was eventually looking for answers about what the Inquiry would really achieve, the impact it might have on British foreign, military and security policy and the effect it would have on the nation as a whole.

'What will the Iraq Inquiry achieve?' Became the focus of this story which is more than a boring piece of radio. You might wonder how this could possibly be anything but dry...I did too at one point but that's what made me inject a bit of creativity into it...

Iraq Inquiry Broadcast on the BBC World service

BBC Worldservice - THE WORLD TODAY Program : 8.00GMT, London 30th July 2010

At the outset I must thank Alistair Elphick and his team at the The World today program, special thanks to Sheila Lal who helped me with this and Carl Josephs who let me take this piece of work experience with me when I left to reflect on and add to my portfolio.

This was a discussion that I helped to set up and I also wrote out the brief for the presenter who would be presenting the program and facilitating the discussion 'on air'.

Ticket to Bristol

I had been waiting for Jamie Cooper to get back from holiday since his father said he should be willing to speak to me on his return from Cyprus. Being a student on a shoe string budget at the time I decided to book my ticket early not knowing that it was going to fall through and I would end up going to Bristol and walking along the humid fish stenchy stretch of the river, find the maritime museum closed for renovation, looking at art and ending up in complete and utter disbelief at how 'Banksy's work and a lot of the modern art at the Bristol Museum could even be remotely regarded as art.

When Jamie Cooper returned it turned out that he had decided to forget the past and hence chose to decline the interview. It would be inaccurate to say I understood the trauma but I did understand the reasons for not wanting to be interviewed because I'm sure that the trauma of soldiers to Iraq, particularly those who suffered life changing injuries was far beyond my comprehension. So, persistent as I can be I'm a journalist with a very strong set of ethics and moral codes and I knew that I would have to let this go without further requests.

But, I couldn't get a refund on my ticket so I decided to make a trip anyway and I figured as someone trying to make it as a journalist in this country, the more I see of it the better. Had I not gone there I may not have realised just how much I love London. Bristol is what I would call a 'sea-side-ish city' with a certain sleepiness to it. It's the sort of city that at least for me conjured up images of the visuals I created in my mind while reciting the 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner '(originally The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, during my school days which was actually the longest major poem by the English poet.

Bristol was an interesting trip no doubt but in spite of the unbearable roasting temperatures in the underground on a summers day and the sardine syndrome at rush hour I wouldn't live anywhere else....Yes, I'm smitten and still chasing 'My London Dream'.

A sketch of Iraq and an ex- soldier's lament

When it comes to sensitive subjects like war, sometimes people are just so angry at the impact it has had on their own life, particularly for servicemen and their families, that asking them a question could unleash an explosion of resentment. When I went to see Chris Ashton, former soldier to Iraq I was struck with sympathy but I also got ambushed with a tale o personal anguish.

His story was one I would regard as tragic in many ways. He lost his eye in an accident while someone was apparently 'messing around' with equipment he said while they were cleaning their guns after a patrol when a gun went off and took his eye out. It caused him severe brain damage and he was in a coma for nearly a year.
When he finally did come out of it he says he was told that he's been taken of the rolls in the service. His wife left him at some point around then and took their son with him and now he's in a wheelchair suing the government and trying to earn a living with a business venture, a carer, a seething gut and a hole in his life.

I had expected an insight into what actually happened in Iraq, hoping that as part of the military force serving there he might have some information that was out of public reach or view. What I got was a bit of colour that would set the scene for my radio package by providing a sketch of landscape in the Iraq. It was useful but the long lament from someone who felt they had not received due compensation from the government for what they had put in was not in the contextual parameters of my piece. He has fought for his country but today that country's government is the one he was angry at because he feels he is not getting the assistance from them that he needs to pick up the pieces and move on.

As someone who is against the idea of war I could not understand what makes people go to war in the first place, it was only when I heard this tale that I realized how financial climate can play it's part. Across the street from the park we were sitting at was the recruitment office where he signed up because he needed work, he couldn't find it and rather than have his family on his back he felt he'd be better off fighting for his country.

When he went, he said he didn't know what the purpose really was though. “You'll go to Iraq , you'll fight for you country, bang bang bang”. Were his words. They chilled me but also made me realise just how much the lack of employment and training opportunity could be responsible for rage and frustration and how it perhaps in way makes men aggressive enough to think that the military is the best outlet for that angst.

Blair-ed mail

Some may call me over ambitious, some may call it foolish and some may call it downright cheeky, but I call it journalism. In retrospect I should not have expected a reply when I sent an email to the former prime minister Tony Blair for a comment on the Iraq Inquiry because it was investigating a war that he had led Britain into which today is one of if not the most controversial and debated war in history and Britain's biggest military endeavour since the World War II.

But, it was an inquiry which he would be called to give evidence at, he was at the heart of the controversy and it was to have him give evidence in public that anti-wars campaigners, families of the fallen and hundreds of others across Britain were shouting about. So to not have tried would not have meant I had turned every stone in search of answers.

And you know what, I did get actually get a response from one of his assistants/secretaries on his behalf, not the one I wanted but a response none the less.

The journalistic benefits of social media

Social networking is cool but it's also become a way of life I think for a journalist, a media professional or anyone else really who wants more than just a social life because every industry today depends on networking for business success. I realized just how useful it can be when you're looking for people to interview because of who they and how their views could make your story stand up.

If I knew the names of former service personnel in Sheffield I could have looked them up In the yellow pages like I've done with others and so have many Sheffield trainee journalist, but when I needed to find a way of contacting from Bristol, I resorted to searching for him on facebook..and I did find him as well as the ex- serviceman from Hull.

I sent out several messages looking for specific people and ended up getting replies on facebook saying they weren't that person and maybe it wasn't the best way to go about my people search but journalism is about making do with your resources the best you can and that what I was doing with social networks.

When I wanted to get an interview with Phil Packer I tried tweeting at him and emailing and I did get a reply, but he didn't want to comment on Iraq though. He served in Iraq but today he he focuses all his efforts and thoughts on 'Help for Heroes', an organisation that supports injured former servicemen and women. He is one of them and his sports and physical achievements are a real inspiration to all of us.

For more on Phil Packer, visit : http://www.philpacker.com/
To make donations you can visit :http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/

At No.3 in 20 minutes? Yes please

Getting interviews with experts and in Whitehall and parliament is not an easy task but for every dozen you don't get a few work out, and sometimes it can happen quicker than you expect. Most of the interviews I had fixed took days and several emails and phone calls back and forth so when I emailed over 20 MPs the night of the voting on the Iraq Inquiry and I got a response from the former Home Secretary David Blunkett's secretary indicating the possibility of an interview I called it a stroke a good luck.

The next morning after an interview with Michael Codner, the Director of military sciences at the Royal United Service Institute I rang Robert Newman to check if my luck had got me an interview with Rt hon David Blunkett.

I was waiting for him to get back to me so I didn't want to head back to the suburbs in case he called back so I decided to do some door knocking on some of the big legal firms around the Strand since I had not yet been able to get an interview with an expert on international law. I was in the waiting room at one of the firms when I got a call from Robert Newman, Bunkett's secretary saying he had 15 minutes to give me if I could be there for 1pm. I had just under 20 minutes to make a mad dash to Westminster. I left my contact details with the receptionist who was still waiting for the lawyer to get back into the office and rushed out , jumped on the tube which would be faster than bus number 11 in high heels and practically ran all the way to No.3 .

I was once again imaged, checked and tagged and Robert appeared to lead me up to the office. 15 minutes was promised, 20 minutes is what I got and that's where the role of Rumsfeld and Cheney and the word 1441 became not just important to my story but I also began to understand the issues surrounding the reconstruction, the role of America and where the UN Security council resolutions fitted into this complex black oily Iraq matrix.

I even got my own printed copy of the days Hansard which would simplify my scrounging attempts for key quotes and clips and of course get to grips with the part of the debate that I didn't watch the day before. Feeling quite chuffed with myself after Rob handed me the document and saw me out through the main reception on floor zero I was on my way. I have to say what I took with me was more than an interview and audio for my radio package, I also carried an impression that only reiterated what Jo Swinson's assistant Hannah Young had shown towards me and that was courtesy. The reason that struck me was because I was a trainee journalist, a student but they still treated me like a respectable member of the press.


For more information on my interviewees and what their organisations do please click on the Names below:
Michael Codner
MP David Blunkett

PMQs, cake and a protest

It was Day 2 in London and PMQ s today was to feature the Iraq Inquiry- The country was in turmoil again after a suggestion of a private inquiry had sent fresh waves of resentment through the public and had Stop the War coalition stationed outside Westminster for a mass protest. I wanted to watch the debate before going off to the protest to interview Lindsey German.

I had my face glued to the telly in my great aunt;s back room trying to soak in as much of the debate as I could before running of the Westminster as she brought me a banana and some cake cake to keep me fuelled for the afternoon.

What always strikes me is the enthusiasm she always shows for what I'm doing even though she was a woman who worked her up to the pinnacle of a career and against on all odds because the only woman in her time to rise to the rank of a senior tax examiner. She spent her whole working life doing that, first with the Inland Revenue and then with Reckitt and Coleman, now Reckitt and Benckiser and she never ceases to inspire me even through my tough times. Miss Vera Marston is no ordinary woman and I'm proud to be her grand niece.

If you're interested in learning more about the UK Tax system you might want to have a read of this paperback by Malcolm James which an introduction to the UK Tax system.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/UK-Tax-System-Introduction/dp/1904905226

Coming back to my cake and controversial story chase, having caught at least half of the debate I was soon on the district line into Westminster to interview Lindsey German amidst what ended up being a very noisy protest. She is one of the most public figures from the anti war camp and the anti Blair camp , a lawyer by profession and somebody who wasn't afraid of voicing her opinion.

The interview later poved to be a test of my own objective editorial judgement. What I later learned differentiated a war crime from the crime of aggression could have made it libellous for me to quote her calling Tony Blair a war criminal. Much as it is a publicly voiced and shared view I had to take an impartial stance as a journalist , regardless of what my personal view was as an individual and I knew that objectivity and impartiality were to be my greatest challenges while putting together this piece of radio.

Tartan compliments and a trip to No.1

When the taxi driver didn't show up and I had to make 3 more calls to the taxi service which ate up all my phone credit, which as a student was quite limited at the best of times, I finally had my tripod me and my bag on the way to the bus stop and after a quick bolt round the blocks and I made it to on to the coach with a few minutes to spare. I was finally on way to London to meet MP Jo Swinson, the first on my list of VIPs I had managed to get interviews with in the big city.

Her assistant Hanna had been a darling and sent me a map of the Parliamentary estate to make it easy for me to find and my bus was on time so I made it there well before the scheduled time. Once I had been through security check: imaged and badged I made my way to the lobby to wait. In spite of the slight panic in the morning I had made it there 20 minutes early, phew!

As I sat there dressed in my black trousers and jacket with high heel boots underneath – they're a steal from a trip to Canada and always do wonders for my confidence, high heels always do that for a woman – and a pink tartan corset. The tartan was a coincidence that didn't actually strike me till I walking out the door to Jo Swinson's office about an hour later.

I had met local councillors but I had never met an MP and Jo Swinson did make an impression on me partly because she was so full of life and intelligence just radiated out of her head like some kind of inner halogen. She looked so young and driven that I was really inspired by her enthusiasm and in awe of her understanding and experience in foreign affairs.
She is actually one of the youngest Mps, the youngest I think till Chloe Smith was elected and still the youngest Lib Dem MP . The interview was enlightening and she was a good interviewee from a technical radio point of view. When you're talking to high profile people you need to know what you're talking about and I think I made the impression of a journalist who deserved credibility.

30 minutes of questioning and answering and I now knew what happened in the run up to the invasion, what the underlying issues of controversy were and what the country was really hoping to see come out of this inquiry which hadn't from previous inquiries.

I also had a compliment to take with me. As I was leaving Jo commented on my pink tartan and I could resist following my smiling 'thank you' with a ' I haven't actually been to Scotland yet, but I'd love to as soon as I get the chance. I picked this up, believe it or not, in Poland”

Interview with Jo Swinson

Also see Jo Swinson interview on the Iraq Inquiry Digest

Off to London

The Iraq Inquiry had been announced but soon after it was announced that it would be held behind closed doors which unleashed fresh waves of resentment reverberating through Britain. Westminster was a turbulent place to be in a sense and that where the action was beginning to erupt. Armed with my questions surrounding a public vs private inquiry I was on the first bus to London the next morning.

I had been trying to contact MPs who had both supported and fought against it , people from different parties in an attempt to be fair, I think I was even a bit gutsy to email the the secretary for the former Prime Minister Tony Blair. I had gotten an interview slot at No1 with Jo Swinson and then there was the protest outside the Westminster the next day, I had an interview with Michael Codner so I had things cut out for a few days in the capital.

Burning the midnight oil

BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL

Having submitted a proposal for an investigative piece of radio about the Iraq Inquiry it was time to start working on developing that story. I'd been digging around through material from news papers and archives dating back to the 90s, official government websites, anti-war websites and anywhere else a visit to would enhance my understand of this highly complex issue I was seeking to unravel. It was in this trek across the web that I stumbled upon the IraqDossier.com and came to discover the man who got the famous 'Sexed up Dossier' on Iraq to be published.

He gave me reading material that helped me get my research underway and reason to burn spend sleepless nights chugging caffeine After reading through the drafts of the dossier, reeling at some of what what was in the correspondence that went in and out of Downing Street which included emails to and from the the man pretty much responsible for the coining of the term 'Spin Doctor',Alistair Campbell himself. I was finally getting somewhere. The big fat Butler report, the Hutton report, pages of letters and appeals from the Stop War coalition website and others followed and slowly I began to draw out the blueprint of the route map.

Where the quest began

WHERE THE QUEST BEGAN

As yet another Inquiry into the Iraq war loomed in the distance I was poking furiously through the news that spawned across the world wide web, the dailies, the weeklies and even what flashed across the telly or trickled in to my head when the radio was on in the hope of striking gold. Now when I say gold, I was thinking more on the lines of a journalistic jackpot, an urn of answered questions that had been cast away either out of ignorance or because it was so shrouded in secrecy that it had been gathering dust and cobwebs in an obscure corner of the media world.

I had to pick a story for an investigative piece of journalism that would become my final MA Project, something that would show what I was capable of as a journalist since I had not really had the opportunity to do much TV or radio presenting while on the course, somehow the local students always seems to be the ones doing that while I ran around in the rain and every other picture of imperfect weather that defines the Yorkshire landscape, trying to get the story. In retrospect of course I see that this only strengthened my resolve to turn out something that would speak, something that would reveal and something that would be exclusive and hopefully take me one step closer to the career I moved halfway round the world to build, the dream I came to this country to pursue. If there's one thing that I am it's determined. Perseverance and resilience make it hard for me to find complacence in mediocrity and this was certainly a time for me to capitalize on those assets.

I had bounced around from the scandals surrounding sex offenders and the ring that had been arrested in Scotland to Mumbai one year on from the Terror attacks which would be an inquisition into the country's enhanced security and whether they were equipped should god forbid another such disaster strike. There were fleeting thoughts on other social and moral issues but the one I finally decided to pursue was the one that I knew would probably be by far the most challenging something I knew that the world would actually want to hear. What I hadn't for seen was how fast the story would move, how it would have been traipsing across the country from Hull and Preston down to Bristol in search of answers and how my insights would find their way into a segment onto the BBC's World Today program