Tony Blair's legacy

From Blair tells Bush US must back reformed UN by Julian Borger, Martin Kettle and Will Woodward Guardian 05/26/06:

Tony Blair will today call for a return to a multilateral approach to global affairs built around a radically reformed United Nations led by a powerful secretary general, in a bid to salvage his legacy as a progressive leader on the world stage.

In a foreign policy address at Georgetown University, Mr Blair will put forward the case for "values based interventionism" in the name of democracy and human rights and the reinvigoration of the UN and other institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

It's way too late, Tony, way too late.

Your chance for a "legacy as a progressive leader on the world stage" ended the moment you decided to back Bush's invasion of Iraq.

You'll be remembered in world affairs mainly as a cynical warmonger who put your pretty words about humanitarian obligations and defending democracy at the service of preventive war and gruesome torture.

You'll be lucky if you avoid being tried as a war criminal before the International Criminal Court.

The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:

(a) Crimes against peace: (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances; (ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).

(b) War crimes ... which include, but are not limited to, ... ill-treatment of prisoners of war ... wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.

- Nuremberg Principles, Principle VI

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