. . . providing comfort to future war criminals that it's still possible, as a former war criminal, to be accepted in polite society.
Blair has never been indicted as a war criminal. Of course he hasn't. But he played a pivotal role in enabling the assault on Iraq in March 2003, lying time after time, about “high level intelligence” confirming the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. George Bush would probably have invaded Iraq anyway, but Blair shares direct accountability for the chaos that ensued over the next decade — including the death of at least 500,000 Iraqi citizens.
As Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission between 2000 and 2009, I reported directly to Tony Blair for seven years. For the first three years, it was extremely rewarding. He seriously understood the significance of the climate crisis, and was interested enough in sustainable development more broadly to make it possible for the Commission to develop effective working relationships (through the Cabinet Office) with at least eight government departments. Direct access was frequent and taken seriously.
It all changed in 2003.
Blair has never been indicted as a war criminal. Of course he hasn't. But he played a pivotal role in enabling the assault on Iraq in March 2003, lying time after time, about “high level intelligence” confirming the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. George Bush would probably have invaded Iraq anyway, but Blair shares direct accountability for the chaos that ensued over the next decade — including the death of at least 500,000 Iraqi citizens.
As Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission between 2000 and 2009, I reported directly to Tony Blair for seven years. For the first three years, it was extremely rewarding. He seriously understood the significance of the climate crisis, and was interested enough in sustainable development more broadly to make it possible for the Commission to develop effective working relationships (through the Cabinet Office) with at least eight government departments. Direct access was frequent and taken seriously.
It all changed in 2003.
Continue @ Jonathon Porritt.
No comments