David Manning is the departing UK ambassador to the US and a close confidante of Tony Blair. In a final interview, he tries to provide political cover for his former master:
Manning then makes a remarkable claim. Blair was desperate for a second resolution at the UN Security Council, not just to give him cover for war, but because, in his heart of hearts, he did not want military action. “Until very late he hoped there would be an international coalition that would work through the UN.” He hoped pressure would be applied, so that either Saddam would quit of his own accord or neighbouring countries would help push him out. Blair “was always in favour of regime change, but that did not mean he always wanted regime change through military means. He must have known it might come to military action, but I have always believed he hoped and probably believed there was a way of getting there by using the UN to put pressure on Saddam. I don’t think he ever wanted to go by the military route.” In the end he had no choice. He was boxed in, worried about transatlantic splits. “He knew what the stakes were. He accepted it might come to this, but he always wanted to do it in a different way. I’ve always believed he would much rather it hadn’t taken place.”
This story is one of tragedy, rather than lies or hubris. Manning provides one more example to support his case. Blair, he suggests, was in effect deceived by the White House and the neoconservatives over plans for the reconstruction of Iraq.
We’re supposed to feel sorry for Blair? Dream on.
Tell that to the over one million murdered Iraqis since 2003.