11:27am Tuesday 9th February 2010
IN discussions on the rights and wrongs of regime change, Tony Blair has been allowed to maintain the euphemism of “removing” former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
But Saddam is not sitting in a cell at The Hague or writing his memoirs in a Swiss retirement chalet. Mr Blair and George Bush had his neck broken.
They may say this was a matter for Iraqis, but Iraqis did not overthrow or capture him.
The Coalition did. He was as much entitled to political asylum as anyone we have ever held.
Many say his actions justified his fate, but politics in his part of the world was always played for keeps.
Saddam was keeping the lid on some very destructive forces (which we then unleashed). He had to fight off a larger neighbour’s attempts to export its Islamic revolution. His ruthlessness when threatened was learnt from Stalin, but he could have looked to the British for similar examples.
His dispute with Kuwait erupted into Gulf War I because Margaret Thatcher saw a chance for Falklands War II and because Arab unification seemed too threatening to Israel.
He was a leader in the mould of his time and place. His removal was an opportunity to try to draw a line under history’s barbarity.
Messrs Blair and Bush chose not to do that.
John Riseley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
RE Ken Jones’ letter in which he said all the negative media comments about Tony Blair and Iraq made his blood boil (HAS, 3).
Maybe it is Mr Jones’ opinion that makes other people’s blood boil.
Mr Blair continues to have no regrets and remains defiant at the soldiers’ lives lost at his hands and, if he truly believes he did the right thing, why does he continue to be so evasive when questioned.
Why did he arrive two hours early for his hearing at the Iraq Inquiry? To avoid having to listen to the crowds reminding him of the coward he is.
I put it to Mr Jones that as he lives in Mr Blair’s former constituency he feels the need to support him – and that is his prerogative.
However, as someone who lost our brother in Iraq I can assure him that it is not about needing a target “to focus grief”.
It is a devastating loss that only those in our situation can ever begin to imagine.
Maybe Mr Jones’ insensitive comments prove that we have a madman – as he referred to Saddam Hussein – closer to home.
Name supplied, Darlington.
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