Morning:
13°c
Tony Blair blasted by Archbishop at Iraq war service
Terry Kirby and Miranda Bryant09.10.09
Tony Blair came under attack from the Archbishop of Canterbury and a grieving father at a remembrance service for the Iraq war dead today.
Speaking at St Paul's Cathedral, Dr Rowan Williams attacked the former prime minister for spin tactics before the 2003 invasion and ignoring the human cost of war.
He said: “There were those among both policymakers and commentators who were able to talk about [the conflict] without really measuring the price, the cost of justice.”
He added: “Perhaps we have learnt something, if only that there is a time to keep silence, a time to let go of the satisfyingly overblown language that is so tempting to human beings when war is in the air.”
After the service Peter Brierley, whose son Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley, 28, was killed in March 2003, refused to shake Mr Blair's hand, saying: “You've got blood on it.”
Mr Blair was ushered away and afterwards Mr Brierley, from West Yorkshire, said: “I believe Tony Blair is a war criminal. I can't bear to be in the same room as him. I can't believe he's been allowed to come to this reception.”
The service was attended by hundreds of veterans, many still bearing the signs of their injuries, together with the families of the 179 troops and civilian workers who died in Iraq. They heard Dr Williams praise the work of the Armed Forces and civilian staff.
But he said the rights and wrongs of the conflict would exercise historians, moralists and international experts for many years to come.
“In a world as complicated as ours has become, it would be a very rash person who would feel able to say without hesitation, this was absolutely the right or the wrong thing to do, the right or the wrong place to be,” said Dr Williams.
After the service Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, who is head of the Armed Forces, said he recognised “mistakes were made during the conflict and the years that followed”.
Sir Jock added: “I think it's fair to say a lot of mistakes were made throughout the campaign by the coalition. It's fair to say some of the planning for the post-conflict phase was perhaps not as carefully thought through as it might have been.”
The service, five months after the end of Operation Telic in Iraq, was also attended by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron. Senior military figures included former heads of the Army General Sir Mike Jackson and General Sir Richard Dannatt, who is joining the Conservatives as an adviser.
After his address, Dr Williams blessed the centrepiece of the “Basra Wall”, built by troops in front of the 20th Armoured Brigade's Iraq HQ to honour fallen comrades. The wall, with its brass plaques and marble centre stone, was the focal point of the memorial service in Basra on 30 April to mark the end of the British operation.
Those who died included Corporal Ben Leaning, 24, of the Queen's Royal Lancers, killed by a roadside bomb in 2007 and whose mother, Tracey Hazel, 43, lit a memorial candle today. She said: “At the end of the day, I wanted to be here for Ben and all the fallen — I feel so privileged. It was so nice they chose one of the parents to do it, as it's them that are left suffering.”
She was among the first group of families to be awarded the Elizabeth Cross by the Queen last month. This is a military honour for the relatives of service personnel killed on active service.
Lieutenant Colonel Adam Griffiths MBE, 40, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who served in 2004, said: “It was right to reflect, the right chance to put a line underneath it. For us who have served personally it's a good chance to remember what we achieved out there.”
Among the former service personnel who took part was Royal Marine lance corporal Gareth Thomas, 27, from Dorset, who said a prayer during the service. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in rescuing injured colleagues under fire in the early days of the conflict. He said: “I feel very proud of what we've done.”
Reader views (31)
Blair and Bush did what was right. It's easy to criticize leaders for war. Someone has to be blamed, it's only human nature. Do you believe in Nation safety? Freedom and safety are never free. Blair was not alone in his decisions on Iraq. There were weapons of mass destruction, the problem is, where did they go? Iran or maybe Korea? All b/c no weapons were found, does not mean they were never there. Do you think all those killed by Hussein was OK?
- Alheimstead, benbrook
The complete BBC TEAM should be up for WAR CRIMES.
TEAM BBC = BLAIR, BROWN & CAMERON
'BBC TEAM' should be synonymous with 'WAR CRIMES'.
- Trevor Morrison, bournemouth, Dorset UK
Denis Regan: the Liberals were in power at the outbreak of WWI, Labour in power at the Korean War/Irag Invasion/ Afghanistan. The Tories were WWII, the Falklands and Kuwait plus Kenya, Aden and several other minor skirmishes e.g. Suez.
I'd say on the basis of losses, the Liberals "win" hands down.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England
@ Denis Regan, harbin china
Life under a Totalitarian government seems to be taking it's affect on you.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Keith Price. Blair is raking these millions in lecture circuits because he is reaping the benefit of supporting neocons in America who were braying for war. Blair is now a property collector, thanks to these neocons in America
- Gary, London
Like yesterdays comment on the "Blairs" self, self and yet more self. How he could sit in that congregation during that service is beyond me, his wife yes she could manage anything to be in the limelight. As an ex service man I despise the man Blair and all he stands for and ofcourse all those other politicians who were in favour of the war can be tarred with the same brush. How in the name of good sense can Blair possibly be considered for the top job in the EU oh I forgot we do not elect the so called commision. As a previous contributor said he should be in court for what he did to this nations forces. All these people who lied with him will all enjoy a bountifull financial future whilst the rest of us stump up the money. Please let us have the election and then have a chance of ending this political tie with the EU let the people speak and let the politicains enjoy a dose of honesty. As for you Mr Blair enjoy yourself but please do it somewhere else you really are not wanted here.
- Jock, canterbury kent
'Religion is the opium of the world',Karl Marx,enough said,me thinks.
- Denis Regan, harbin china
Some heads of state go to the International Court in Den Haag to be judged for lesser crimes than IRAQ and Afganistan. It's distressing when only deaths are only quoted on NATO troops.
- Nigel Rush, Paris France
what about the human cost of not acting?: walking away on the other side (now where have I heard that one before??). The irony is that Blaire and Buch are (of course) both committed Christians.
- Alan, London
A good time to draw a line under the conflict,bereaved families to be remembered as well as serving personnel to reflect on their experiances.
Not a good time to include Blair, Brown and Hoon,their presence would have sent a cold shiver through the assembled families and guests.
Did Doc Williams say enough about the price,the cost of justice?For so many there will never be a line drawn under Iraq,even after the inquiry,even if justice will be allowed to take place.....How can Blair ever find peace because whatever he achieves in the future will never ever compensate for his wrongs over Iraq.
- Tithonus, Athens Greece.
I am disturbed by the references to Blair.Who among you would want a Saddam Hussain today .He who was supported by Bush1 and Tory governments when he was useful to us and killing and gassing his people with no big noise from the tory party.It just seems to me that the Tories never own up to their war mistakes.Examples The Falklands and the sinking of the Belgrano and Churchills many mistakes in WWW! and WWW2.
Lest ye forget we have lost many more men under the Tories in wars than under Labour or the Liberals.
- Denis Regan, harbin china
Wouldn't it be nice if Blair, now worth £13 million, gave half to the families of killed or injured troops by means of an ongoing trust."
That is a bit rich for a Tory like yourself, JS. Cameron's fortune is in double figtre millions, and that is before he rewards himself handsomely through his own appalling inheritance tax rebate. He is expected to inherit £2.5million when his stockbroker father Ian dies.
- Keith Price, Luton England
I'm with his beardyness on this one,but on everything else he talks utter tosh.
- General Lee Wright, Communist .Britain
I sent an email once to this sanctimonious agitator The Archbishop of Canterbury saying why doesn't he shut his mouth when he lambasted the public for going into debt many months ago
I asked why it was all right for him as a sponging parasite on the Taxpayer getting over 75,000 quid a year cushy money,..with a free house, car, perks .But not ok for others less well off than an ex-Communist agitator like himself. I got no answer.
- A Brown, UK
1. Saddam Hussein was v dangerous. World politics has ever been strongher countries asserting their national interest. (Sorry bleeding hearts thats the way it is. If it wasn't we would be speaking German under a Nazi flag)
2. We know he had the materials to make such weapons as we (the West) sold him materials to do so. Also remember SCUD missiles?
3. Awful casualty figs associated with this war (approx 100,000) should not be exaggerated to make political capital.
4. Saddam was responsible the deaths of 3-4 million people over two decades. The terrible murders that continue in Iraq are deplorable but do not compare to the carnage of the Saddam years.
5. We are lucky to live in secure, liberal, wealthy countries where our security is defended resolutely.
- Coys Switz, switzerland
religion is just a advertising agency for a product that doesn't exist.so the archbish cannot talk
- John Mckim, glasgow.uk
No comment...except that all the deluded/conniving politicians who supported Blair's 'reasons' for the Iraq occupation should take a hard look at themselves and hang their heads in shame.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
You're having a laugh ain't you Jon? Mad people cannot feel guilt or shame. You can never argue with madmen. Quite simply, because they ARE mad.
- Seenitall, London
"Cameron will soon announce that Williams is to be the new minister for War in his next cabinet"
What's this Keith? Subtlety? Unusual in you, but I'm impressed! Your intent has nothing whatever to do with the article of course, but don't let that stop you any more than it ever has. Reality is really difficult to grasp, after all - so much easier to have others instruct you in how to think, act and react in the nitty gritty issues of life - like the Middle-east issues.
The archbishop may be seen by many (including me) as a wet rag as a leader, but at least he stays true to HIS opinions and beliefs. He's no politician buying votes with promises he never intends to keep.
- Rogan, Irving
Keith Price. Stop this silly obsession with Cameron. Your heroes, Blair and Brown committed this country to illegal wars. They should be tried in Hague for that crime against humanity
- Gary, London
Let me quote Winston Churchill.
"There but for the grace of God goes God"
That was for Sir Stafford Cripps.
Who is for now, Tony Bliar
or Rowon Williams?
- Macdangler, Wimbledon SW19
This decision will haunt Blair Bush and all those seeking revenge for 9/11. The deaths of 100 000 Iraquis should be on their consciences.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
There is a reason for the separation of church and state
The two principles of secularity of government and freedom of religious exercise should be just so. Otherwise you end up with countries like Iran.
Williams needs to steer well clear of politics.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Tony Blair is an international disgrace and should be tried for his international war crimes. But the politicians who supported his disgusting proposal to invade Iraq without evidence should face trial too. Britain should ban absolute privilege and give citizens the right to sue politicians.
It is odd that Mr Cameron is seeking to take away the human rights of ordinary citizens but not telling us what will be done about bankers and politicians. It is clear the new London Mayor like the ousted old London Mayor wants to pat them on the back.
- Val Keller, London
The Archbishop´s words shine like the light of truth in the middle of all the opaque spin. He sees clearly what it´s all about and what is going on.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
In return I'd like to blast Rowan Wlliams for failing to consider the human and other costs of leaving a homicidal mass murdering maniac in charge of Iraq.
Sadly this is yet more proof that the Church of England just cannot be taken seriously about anything much anymore. Perhaps if the Church spent a bit more time and effort promoting Christianity, rather than promoting Muslim grievances, it might possibly be worth listening to again.
- Matthew, London, UK
It will be water off a particularly self-righteous duck's back to blair, any criticism by the Archbish. Tony thinks he's guided by the hand of God, like every other self-deluded warmonger.
- Squiz, Islington
No comment...except that all the deluded/conniving politicians who supported Blair's 'reasons' for the Iraq occupation should take a hard look at themselves and hang their heads in shame.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK
Williams can hardly talk, religion is 100% spin - manipulators manipulating the gullible.
- Susan, London
"In a world as complicated as ours has become, it would be a very rash person who would feel able to say without hesitation, this was absolutely the right or the wrong thing to do, the right or the wrong place to be,"
No, Archbishop, it merely requires the kind of moral fibre which you so clearly lack.
Or, assuming that there was a good case for invading Iraq and killing hundreds of thousands, including our own brave soldiers, please make it here.
I speak as an Anglican and a Christian.
- Sarahn, London, UK
Wouldn't it be nice if Blair, now worth £13 million, gave half to the families of killed or injured troops by means of an ongoing trust. After all, he's responsible for all the tragedy that followed his lies in the Commons.
- Js, London
Cameron will soon announce that Williams is to be the new minister for War in his next cabinet
- Keith Price, Luton England
