Tony Blair concerned about being branded war criminal: Analyst
Press TV has interviewed Steven Kelley, a former CIA/NSA contractor in Los Angeles, about former British Prime Minister Tony Blair apologizing for taking Britain to the 2003 war in Iraq.
Following is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: Blair always stood stoically behind the decision to invade Iraq and now reports suggest only after new revelations are shown that he ignored warnings of Security Council consequence of invading Iraq did he decide to extend his apology. So exactly how sincere is it?
Kelley: Well obviously this shows me that Tony Blair is not a very courageous man and I suspect that unlike his American counterparts here he seems to be showing little more fear about the repercussions. But I suspect what is really going on here is that they are trying to control the information. Obviously they cannot stop it what is coming out so now they are trying to control the dialogue and own the facts.
Press TV: And more important than apology perhaps maybe the admission that the invasion led to the creation and rise of Daesh. Your take on this.
Kelley: Well I think that that is an understatement. I think that of course the reality is that he knows the truth is that we created it. A bigger statement that he made is that the information they received on the WMDs was erroneous information. I think that is a false statement. I think they knew from day one that there were no WMDs and if there were, they were supplied by the United States
Press TV: Are there new legal ramifications so this admission, I mean this almost proves negligence or culpability in all the unrest and chaos that was created in Iraq. Can he be held somehow accountable?
Kelley: I think most definitely he is concerned about the World Court and being branded a war criminal as obviously the court of Malaysia did brand him and Bush war criminals. So certainly this is something that it appears to be weighing heavily on his mind and I think he is going to try to do everything he can to repair his legacy.
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