Blair, who was especially vocal against Saddam’s deadly repression during the run-up to Iraq’s liberation, told the Chilcot inquiry three days ago that he has no regrets the Iraqis now are free.
“Responsibility, but not a regret for removing Saddam Hussein. I believe he was a monster, that he threatened not just the region but the world. …“This is a profoundly wicked, I would say almost psychopathic, man [Saddam Hussein]. We were obviously worried that after him his two sons seemed to be as bad, if not worse. …
“This isn’t about a lie, or a conspiracy, or a deceit, or a deception; this is a decision. And the decision I had to take was, given Saddam’s history, given his use of chemical weapons, given the over 1 million people whose deaths he caused, given 10 years of breaking U.N. resolutions — could we take the risk of this man reconstituting his weapons program? It’s a decision, in the end. ...
“Sometimes what is important is not to ask the March 2003 question, but to ask the 2010 question. Supposing we had backed off this military action, supposing we had left Saddam and his sons who were going to follow him in charge of Iraq -- he had used chemical weapons, caused the death of over a million people.”
Fascists frown. Blair’s comments offended the fascists and appeasers of fascism, who hoped Saddam would continue murdering and starving tens of thousands of Iraqis each year, and hoped Saddam would keep all 25 million Iraqis forever in chains.
The liberation of Iraq enforced U.N. resolutions requiring that Saddam end his repression, stop supporting terrorism, and cooperate fully and immediately with U.N. arms inspectors.
Major stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction did not turn up after Iraq’s liberation, but the opening of that formerly closed society did turn up plenty of evidence of Saddam’s brutal and illegal repression.
Censored news. In covering Blair’s testimony before the Chilcot inquiry, most of the press irresponsibly is leaving out the matter of Saddam’s repression, as if WMDs were the only reason Saddam were removed. Saddam was required by U.N. Resolution 688 to end his repression in 1991; he didn’t.
It’s too bad some people don’t care about defending the defenseless or freeing the oppressed. It’s fortunate for the Iraqis and for the democratic world that Tony Blair did care when it counted.
Frank Warner
I know man, it really is pathetic along with the blaming of Bush, Blair, and the US military for the brutality the Bathists, Al Qaeda, and Mahdi Army have inflicted upon the Iraqi people. The fact that many people can't tell the bastards from the hero's is a disturbing development indeed.
Posted by: What? | February 01, 2010 at 04:58 PM
The trick is obvious. Play on the grief of those whose loved ones died in the war to free Iraq, and play on the selfishness of those Britons who believe the Americans alone should do all the world's liberating.
Manipulate enough of the darker emotions, and some people will pretend there was no reason to oust Saddam's regime.
Posted by: Frank Warner | February 01, 2010 at 06:23 PM
Tony Blair was really a clear thinking PM. His ability to communicate with precision is almost astonishing compared to what we're used to. I wish Bush had done nearly as well on that score.
Posted by: jj mollo | February 01, 2010 at 08:12 PM
True. Bush had some good speeches on the moral imperative for liberating Iraq, but he was shaky when he had to explain off the cuff.
On this Chilcot inquiry, I wish I could find more of Blair's own words. The newspapers seem to have quoted a few sentences. I'd like to see the transcript.
Posted by: Frank Warner | February 02, 2010 at 02:28 AM