Tony Blair has been in the news the last couple of days as the English High Court has been hearing a case claiming the former Brit prime minister should be put on trial for war crimes in deciding to conquer Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
Who better to weigh in on this one than Sir John Chilcot who took seven years conducting an inquiry into Blair's war waging.
In consummate British upper crust fashion, Chilcot says Blair wasn't straight with Parliament but he goes all mushy on the question of whether the less than straight Blair lied.
Asked by the BBC whether Mr Blair gave the fullest version of events, Sir John replied: "I think he gave an - what was - I hesitate to say this, rather but I think it was from his perspective and standpoint, emotionally truthful."
Blair was "emotionally truthful." He didn't have the facts to justify invading Iraq but he convinced himself that he did. He believed he needed to invade Iraq and kill all those people. So, even though he was bullshitting Parliament, he was emotionally truthful. He was just in a Baghdad State of Mind. Cue Billy Joel.
If emotional truthiness is a good defence to war crimes it sure as hell should work for you the next time some cop pulls you over for speeding. Give it a try. Let me know how it works.
Takes me back to Pinochet's arrest and consequent release in the UK.
ReplyDeleteBlair will unfortunately never face trial.
We should however make his life a living hell.
TB
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed when he's really pushed on this his response reveals a powerful inability to accept reality?
I don't think he unable; I think he is in self denial.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he already lives with a huge amount of guilt that is why he became a Roman Catholic and needs to confess his sins.
His priest is sworn to secrecy so the world at large will never know the truth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zkaqu0FsPU&list=PL46CCAC3763F5CDF6&index=2
TB
When I was back in the UK last month any conversation on Tony Blair was met with an awkward silence just as it was with Kenya.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same silence that Canadian have when discussing first nations.
I suppose that the consequences for such past action are too difficult to deal with on many levels.
TB
A specimen called Blair embodies all the qualities of a psychopath.
ReplyDeleteNow, where is God when we need him... ;-(
A..non