Do most people 'dislike' Tony Blair?

[AgentZigzag]

I accept that the word dislike may not fully encompass the emotional response he provokes in some people, but I personally don't think he's that bad. I see him as a politician who's had to make difficult decisions, rather than someone who took us to war for dishonest reasons.

It was his job to look at the bigger picture after 9/11, I've just seen him saying on the Iraq Inquiry that 3000 people were killed on that day, and if they could have, they would have killed 30000. Surely he had to do everything and anything he thought necessary to try and protect us from people whose reality is so distorted that they would gladly kill and maim as many people in the west as possible, and certainly don't play by any of the rules of normal modern warfare.

I don't think I'm being naive, and I can't stand Labour so it's not because I'm some NuLab fan, but I just don't think he's as bad as the media wants us to think he is.

Most wars are illegal e.g. our apparently fantastic intervention in Kosova was 'illegal - that too had no mandate from the UN.

It was nothing about the WMD and 45 minutes - that really was the DM talk about it - dumbing down the argument. (And he didn;t know it was not the case) As I said earlier, 45 minutes / 45 hours - makes no difference - I personally don't see the difference. Still a threat.

Well who is it, exactly, Spokette, that you claim would be curtailing our right to free speech but for glorious Tony?

You are very silly indeed if you think invading Iraq had anything to do with the welfare of everyday Iraqis. TB didn't give a shit.

herbie - he was lying to the UN about the weapons he had but sunsequently destroyed.

It is agreed that he was actively pursuing his nuclear programme - I don't know what is not to get about that?

Or 45 years. Iraq had no WMD. Not one. It makes a good deal of difference.

Otherwise, if you are saying Iraq was invaded because the regime was a bit nasty, why not invade:

Venezuala
Zimbabwe
or indeed, the big fucker

China? I wonder why not. After all, China could deploy a WMD in about 45 seconds, and would, in a heartbeat, if we pisse them off enough.

Somebody remind me why Iraq was our problem. Why did Tony think that we had to be the world's policeman?

It wasn't, fembear. Other than that TB creamed his pants at getting to pal up to George W Bush, and they prayed together.

The difference is nuclear and chemical weapons. And they hated us. (?)

And you Georgimama are extremely silly for believing the worse of TB when you was not party to the meetings, discussions, data, intelligence reports etc that formed his opinion to go to war.

As for him not caring about everyday Iraqis, how do you know that? You really must stop believing everything the press tells you!

well said spokette

What are you on about LadyBlahBlah? Iraq didn't have any weapons of any description pointed at us. Whether Hussein pontificated about evil Britain or not, he had no ability or intention of doing anything to us.

The Empire is over, people. We aren't the world's police anymore.

Herbie - most do not want serious revenge on us / or have a serious hatred for us

What is not to get about that?

(and I am sure we are watching them too - look at North Korea?)

herbietea you wrote "no need for personal insults" but earlier you say you dislike Blair immensely.

Irony is not lost on you I seee

You really are a Labour stooge spokette. Do you really think I am more foolish for being sceptical about TB's motives and the outcome of the inquiry into David Kelly's death (papers suppressed for 70 years. I wonder why?) than you are for believing this nonsense?

You think me a fool for not believing TB because I don't know him? Are you for real? Do you know him then? Were you in Cabinet the day they decided to invade Iraq?

"And you Georgimama are extremely silly for believing the worse of TB when you was not party to the meetings, discussions, data, intelligence reports etc that formed his opinion to go to war."

Oh purlease. That's how he conned everyone into going to war - "trust me, I'm a politician. Would I lie to you?"
He made a decision and then tried to concoct data to back up that decision. Except that there never was any data.

No what are you on about Georgimama?

At what point would you start to think "oooo maybe this might be a problem?"

The point when there were some guns pointed at us. Which there weren't. Ever.

A Labour stooge? Now you really are grasping at straws Georgiemama.

I do not think you a fool for not believing TB. I think you are fool for despising someone who made a difficult decision, stood by his decision and showed unswerving leadership instead of pandering to the populist vote.

TB was a leader. Too bad you are incapable of recognising that.