Daily Lessons from Life 01 Sep 2010 - Blair 'sorry' for Iraq victims but no regrets in memoir

"Blair 'sorry' for Iraq victims but no regrets in memoir - Wed, Sep 01, 2010 AFP

LONDON - Former British prime minister Tony Blair said he was 'desperately sorry' for deaths in the Iraq war but insisted the controversial 2003
invasion was right in his memoirs published Wednesday.


Entitled 'A Journey', the book is Blair's account of his decade in Downing Street from 1997 to 2007 and also features an unprecedented, stinging attack on his successor Gordon Brown, whose premiership he brands a disaster. However, it is Iraq - arguably the defining event of Blair's decade in power - which is at the book's heart."

I learned that some publishers actually paid him 7m Pound or something to do this book. I guessed someone will buy it and read it while some will never touch it. As for me, if I come across it in the book store, I will probably glance through it as long as I do not have to pay for it!

I am not the most partial person with an opinion on Mr. Blair. I believed his role in support the ex-President Bush Jr. to go to war against Iraq was a disaster! It it interesting to note that this news break as President Obama declared the combat mission of the USA forces to Iraq is officially over last night in the USA!!

Lessons for me are:

1. Mr. Blair has enjoyed tremendous popular supports during most of his rein. Unfortunately his last few years were seen by some to be doing the job of the Deputy President of USA besides President Bush Jr. This is most unfortunate though I dare not say if it was undeserving!;

2. It is important to support a major ally in a major offensive or initiative of a global scale. At the same time, it cannot be justified when further evidence unearthed subsequently revealed that the initial premises to launch an attack is in doubt. Some corrective and courageous actions must be taken by the leaders then. Sadly, they were not forthcoming. It is, of course, a very complex situation we are talking about. Still, I feel that the Iraqi people need to decide on what type of regime and political system they want. It is not for outsiders to decide for them;

3. then again as this war is more about the control of the limited natural resources and the stability of the whole Middle East, simple rationality cannot adequately explained some of the seemingly perplexing decisions taken. Geopolitical consideration are like emotion that cloud rationality when human being tries to solve problems. Whose interests should be prioritized is not just to be decided by the people of the country affected but by the powers that have interests in the region balancing the 'overall' benefits and cost of doing this or that. I guessed this is called: strategic considerations!!

May his memoir sells well as I understand that part of the proceed will go to taking care of the surviving veterans for the 2nd Gulf War that Mr. Blair had helped sent his fellow countrymen to fight!! Maybe this can somehow atone for his 'sorry'.