RECENTLY Tony Blair said: “I’m accused of being a war criminal for removing Saddam Hussein — who by the way was a war criminal — and yet Jeremy is seen as a progressive icon as we stand by and watch the people of Syria barrel-bombed, beaten and starved into submission and do nothing” (“Blair slams Corbyn inaction over Syria”, The Herald, June 9)
Well, Mr Blair- the barrel bombs are flying because you and George W Bush invaded Iraq and destabilised Syria with thousands of angry Sunnis. You helped start these unnecessary wars- don’t blame others for the disasters you created. Your love of bombs has killed hundreds of thousands because you wanted glory.
And then David Cameron did the same with Libya. I despair with our crazy leaders and their marriage to the weapons trade. United international action, economic sanctions, the banning of weapons sales and financial support to neighbouring democratic nations and popular resistance movements are the only ways to get rid of dictators.
Diplomacy, Mr Blair, should have been the way forward. You don’t solve problems by creating thousands of angry dispossessed people. Your blanket ban on Ba’athists joining the new Iraqi army after your invasion meant thousands of unemployed soldier Sunnis had nowhere to go and then, your putting the Shias in power only added insult to injury. So now we have Islamic State. Don’t blame others for not wanting to make things even worse, Mr Blair.
Pete Gregson,
27 Riversdale Grove, Edinburgh.
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