Six-and-a-half years after he sent British forces into battle in Iraq, Tony Blair today came face to face with the uncomfortable consequences of his decision when the father of one of the 178 military personnel who died in the conflict refused to shake his hand, denouncing him as a "war criminal".Peter Brierley, whose son Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley died in a road accident while on service in Iraq barely a week after the invasion in March 2003, publicly snubbed the former prime minister at a reception that followed a service commemorating those who served in the conflict. As Blair proffered his hand, Brierley told him: "I'm not shaking your hand, you've got blood on it."
Six-and-a-half years after he sent British forces into battle in Iraq, Tony Blair today came face to face with the uncomfortable consequences of his decision when the father of one of the 178 military personnel who died in the conflict refused to shake his hand, denouncing him as a "war criminal".
Peter Brierley, whose son Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley died in a road accident while on service in Iraq barely a week after the invasion in March 2003, publicly snubbed the former prime minister at a reception that followed a service commemorating those who served in the conflict. As Blair proffered his hand, Brierley told him: "I'm not shaking your hand, you've got blood on it."
Delivering his address in St Paul's Cathedral before a congregation including the Queen, Gordon Brown and Mr Blair himself, the spiritual head of the Church of England accused the former prime minister of indulging in rhetoric before the 2003 invasion, while leaving ordinary servicemen and women to pick up the pieces in a campaign which went on to last six years and claim 179 British lives. "When such conflict appeared on the horizon, there were those among both policy-makers and commentators who were able to talk about it without really measuring the price," he said. "Perhaps we have learned something Â- if only that there is a time to keep silence, a time to let go of the satisfyingly overblown language that is so tempting for human beings when war is in the air." Mr Blair, who was sitting in the second row with his wife, Cherie, was forced to sit in silence as the Archbishop described the "chaotic, ravaged society" that resulted from the occupation. ... Mr Blair, who is hoping for political resurrection in the shape of the presidency of the European Union, left the cathedral in stoney-faced silence, his wife at his side.
Delivering his address in St Paul's Cathedral before a congregation including the Queen, Gordon Brown and Mr Blair himself, the spiritual head of the Church of England accused the former prime minister of indulging in rhetoric before the 2003 invasion, while leaving ordinary servicemen and women to pick up the pieces in a campaign which went on to last six years and claim 179 British lives.
"When such conflict appeared on the horizon, there were those among both policy-makers and commentators who were able to talk about it without really measuring the price," he said. "Perhaps we have learned something Â- if only that there is a time to keep silence, a time to let go of the satisfyingly overblown language that is so tempting for human beings when war is in the air."
Mr Blair, who was sitting in the second row with his wife, Cherie, was forced to sit in silence as the Archbishop described the "chaotic, ravaged society" that resulted from the occupation.
...
Mr Blair, who is hoping for political resurrection in the shape of the presidency of the European Union, left the cathedral in stoney-faced silence, his wife at his side.
"Forward he cried from the the rear, and the front rack died" keep to the Fen Causeway
Several videos such as these invite net users to mobilise against Blair's candidacy. Montages which are critical in particular of his involvement in the Iraq war and his special relationship with the United States.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUmOVd7_kiM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltxOz6NtA4g&feature=related An online petition entitled, `Stop Blair' has also been created to prevent him attaining this prestigious position. A short text asserts that it would be absurd to appoint a man known for his euro sceptic positions as head of the Union.http://www.stopblair.eu/And on social networks there is significant anti-Blair mobilisation. Whether it is on Facebook or Twitter, groups and messages stating that his nomination would be catastrophic for the image of the Union are multiplying.
Several videos such as these invite net users to mobilise against Blair's candidacy. Montages which are critical in particular of his involvement in the Iraq war and his special relationship with the United States.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUmOVd7_kiM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltxOz6NtA4g&feature=related
An online petition entitled, `Stop Blair' has also been created to prevent him attaining this prestigious position. A short text asserts that it would be absurd to appoint a man known for his euro sceptic positions as head of the Union.
http://www.stopblair.eu/
And on social networks there is significant anti-Blair mobilisation. Whether it is on Facebook or Twitter, groups and messages stating that his nomination would be catastrophic for the image of the Union are multiplying.
