Behind the smile, one wonders what Tony Blair really thinks about all the criticism levelled at him since he resigned as Prime Minister? The UK media is not kind to him, although the USA continues to push honours on him, the latest being the Liberty Medal (and £100,000) for "bringing liberty to people around the world".
The confirmation that Lord Goldsmith declared any invasion of Iraq illegal, then changed his mind under pressure (was waterboarding involved?), does not say much for him and his duty to the country; nor will history be kind to those Cabinet ministers, like Gordon Brown and Jack Straw, who went along with the Prime Minister, despite concerns. Presumably, as war is declared in the name of Her Majesty, The Queen, it would be of historic interest to know what Mr Blair told her to justify the invasion?
It must also be remembered that Parliament voted for war, although on the basis that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction under his bed. The Prime Minister may have driven through the agreement to back the United States and rid the world of Saddam, but, despite the media effort to say otherwise, he alone would not have been able to do so, without the support of his Cabinet and Parliament.
Tony Blair swept into power on a wave of enthusiasm and goodwill, but he left office with a reputation in tatters and questions still to be answered regarding the Iraqi war and the death of Doctor David Kelly. There is something very rotten about Tony Blair's time in government, but with the millions of pounds he has made since he left office he can afford to smile. For now.
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