Blair should be at the war crimes tribunal – not in Ireland selling books

THE proposed visit by Tony Blair to Ireland on September 3/4 to publicise his autobiography should be used by the Irish people to express their opposition to the wars and military occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq that were carried out in contravention of the UN charter and that have cost the lives of an estimated 1.5 million people so far.

With the withdrawal of US operational troops from Iraq, that country is now on the brink of a renewed outbreak of civil war, resulting from the US-led invasion. The prospects for democracy and peace for the people of Iraq are very remote.

In Afghanistan, Tony Blair falsely claimed that one of the reasons for British participation in the overthrow of the Afghan government in 2001 was to stop the flow of drugs to Europe, yet he must have known when he made that statement that one of the few positive achievements by the Taliban government by 2001 was the virtual elimination of drug production, as confirmed by the UN at the time.

The US and British occupation of Afghanistan was achieved by knowingly creating an alliance with the warlords and drug barons, thereby restoring the production of drugs.

The export of drugs from Afghanistan to Europe is now at an all-time high. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan people have been killed and seriously injured and the abuses of women and children, especially girls, has deteriorated rather than improved under the Karzai government supported by the NATO occupation forces.

Seven Irish soldiers are now serving with this NATO occupation force in Afghanistan in clear breach of Ireland’s so-called military neutrality.

Tony Blair should be at The Hague War Crimes Tribunal as a defendant – not selling books in Ireland.

Edward Horgan

International Secretary

Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance

Newtown

Castletroy

Co Limerick