what is the defintion of someone in colonial denial? This guy

"Lord Dannatt, a former head of the Army, cautioned against “rushing to apocalyptic judgments” about what was left of Britain’s legacy in Iraq. He said: “Our involvement was in the south and this is in the north. Are we seeing Basra in flames? No we are not. This is a problem in the Sunni north and Baghdad. “ " (thanks Basim)