Thoughtless Blair Billy No Mates

[merchant_banker]

I thought he would stay away from the ceremony - bearing in mind he was responsible for all the loss of life.

He has no shame

[geoffreys]

Not standing up for Blair, because I am a harsh critic of the UK's Bush/WMD involvement in the Iraq War. However, Blair couldn't win whatever he did.

Had he stayed away, that would have been perceived as being an admission of culpability. And the media would have ripped him to shreds for not turning up to the commemoration event.

He wasn't Billy No Mates in the TV news clip last night, where he was seen talking to the military top brass next to him.

On balance he was right to attend.

He had the right to attend as ex-PM, but to do so shows he has no shame. The right to attend does not mean he was right to attend.
Geoff.

[geoffreys]

Blair had every right and was right to attend, it was his duty. Whilst not wishing to open up heated discussion in regard to the Gulf War in 2003, it causes much heated discussion and will continue to do so for many years to come, I was on the ground prior to, during and after the war fighting phase of the operation...there was a relative period of calm where there was a clear oppourtunity for the Iraqi people to take charge of their own destiny freed from the tyranny of Hussain, but they failed, instead they reverted back to the tribalism and hatred they knew. I still believe the war was just, unfortunetaly there was no post war plan, and that is where the failure lays.

The lack of an exit plan (post war plan) was on his watch, so he should be held responsible. Why didn't he ensure there was one?
As a result 100s of thousands have died since the Iraq war.
Nothing to do with whether the Iraq war was just or not.
Geoff.

[JimX]

Agreed Lloyd but this should probably be in another section.Political maybe?

[Dominic]

Couldn't agree more. (about moving it to politics...)

[geoffreys]

Blair had every right and was right to attend, it was his duty. Whilst not wishing to open up heated discussion in regard to the Gulf War in 2003, it causes much heated discussion and will continue to do so for many years to come, I was on the ground prior to, during and after the war fighting phase of the operation...there was a relative period of calm where there was a clear oppourtunity for the Iraqi people to take charge of their own destiny freed from the tyranny of Hussain, but they failed, instead they reverted back to the tribalism and hatred they knew. I still believe the war was just, unfortunetaly there was no post war plan, and that is where the failure lays.

The lack of an exit plan (post war plan) was on his watch, so he should be held responsible. Why didn't he ensure there was one?
As a result 100s of thousands have died since the Iraq war.
Nothing to do with whether the Iraq war was just or not.
Geoff.

And Geoff, they still would have died because of the dictatorship at the helm...dammed if you, dammed if you don't....look at Syria.

Some would, but not as many.
Not sure if Sadaam Hussain was as bad as Hassad of Syria.
My view is that we should have left things alone in all these countries.
The fall-out is all the migrants, many 1000s of them have perished also.
Makes one feel ashamed to be a member of the human race.
Geoff.

[ApusApus]

I agree that our past actions have excerbated the current situation & undoubtedly these are responsible for lives lost but what would have been the impact if we hadn't intervened ............ a different outcome maybe but lives still lost for sure?


Shane

[ApusApus]

Really? I suspect they may have..anyone willing to use chemical weapons on their own people are capable of anything....as I say we are dammed if we do and dammed if we don't...I am actually proud of our conduct and efforts in both Iraq and Afganistan...we gave the people space..what they did with that space is open to debate....I am not a great fan of Blair, he had potential, but lost his way...too good for labour by far..but like all things, hindsight is a wonderful gift..and actually I do think in Gulf War 1 we should have finished the job.

I think history has shown that it is not possible to "finish the job"!


Shane

[Rita Sherry]

I am with Lloyd and Hudswell on this one and I too have no time for Mr Blair for many reasons. However he was invited to the memorial ceremony which was an unveiling ceremony of a new memorial sculpture to honour the service and duty of both the UK armed forces and civilians in the Gulf region, Iraq and Afghanistan and to have declined that invitation would, in my opinion, have been an insult and total lack of respect to those very people.

I am in London presently and went along this morning to the Victoria Embankment Gardens to see this sculpture and very splendid and fitting it is too. Most impressive. RIP to all those brave souls and thank you.

Rita

[Jimgym]

As awful as the man is, I think he made the correct decision in going, galling as that obviously is to many.