Protest outside the Chilcot Inquiry into British government desicion to invade Iraq. 29/1/2010. London, UK.
While controversial former British Prime Tony Blair sneaked in the back, anti-war protestors gathered at the front of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, in the heart of Westminster. Blair interrupted his busy and highly lucrative schedule of speaking tours, and prestigious role as EU peace envoy to the Middle East, to explain his part in Britain’s invasion of Iraq in 2003.
It is a widely believed that Blair deliberately distorted intelligence reports, to suggest the Saddam Hussein regime had weapons of mass destruction. The Stop the War Coalition link these alleged lies, with the hundreds of thousands of deaths of Iraqis, and hundreds of deaths amongst occupying forces since the invasion. “Blair lied- thousands died” was a popular slogan from the protestors.
A speech worthy of Scots fire brand preacher John Knox, was delivered by George Galloway the veteran anti-war MP. Galloway literally dammed Blair for his part in the invasion, and the subsequent carnage which engulfed Iraq. The moving delivery of names of some of those who have died in the conflict, gave pause for thought, as did the reading of part of the late Harold Pinter’s Nobel prize speech.
Will “Teflon Tony” manage to avoid a war crimes prosecution? Only time will tell. The Chilcot Inquiry who met today to hear Blair’s testimony, is seen as an establishment whitewash. The protestors call for Blair to be tried for war crimes may seem ambitious, as the victors in wars have never been tried. However the polls show 25% of British people support this demand.
