The ever-smug former British prime minister Tony Blair, who led the campaign to declare war on Iraq in 2003, has finally apologised for certain aspects of the Iraq invasion. The apology has prompted no more than a renewal of the anger against the imperialist war in Iraq that led to the removal of Saddam Hussein and destabilised the political situation in the oil-producing country for over a decade. In an interview with CNN, Tony Blair has admitted that there were ‘elements of truth’ in the view that the 2003 invasion of Iraq has led to the rise of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq. However, Blair insists that he does not regret the removal of Saddam Hussein, claiming ‘it is better that he’s not there.’ The specific apology is for incorrect intelligence, mistakes in planning and mistakes in understanding what would happen once the regime were removed. Blair is expected to come forth with more admissions once the full interview airs, but the question now is whether an apology can cut it. Blair’s admission holds little water, especially at the time of the Iraq invasion a number of key observers and millions of people on the streets had warned the US and UK governments that a war in Iraq would be an unmitigated disaster.
The former British prime minister has been leading a distinguished career after retiring from politics. Even in this interview, Blair insists that there is more to the origin of Isis than the Iraq invasion. Blair’s comments come as the timetable for the publication of the much delayed 2009 public inquiry into the Iraq war is set to be announced. It is disturbing how some leaders can literally get away with murder despite the presence of various statutes governing human rights violations and war crimes. How is an apology enough when over 200,000 Iraqis died in the direct invasion while millions more have been displaced by the Isis offensive? How is an apology enough for the human rights abuses by Nato
troops in Iraqi jails, including Abu Ghraib? How is an apology enough for completely destabilising the Middle East, resulting in the rise of Isis? Blair’s apology only rubs salt into the wounds of those who have suffered from this imperialist adventurism in the Middle East. The apology is another reminder to those who question why Blair and ex-US president George Bush have not been tried for war crimes till now.