.....is in Ireland this week and is rumoured to be on The Late Late Show. He has had a terrible time from the British media for his role in the Iraq war but is much of this unfair? The Americans were going to invade Iraq anyway and Britain doesn't have much of a say in what the Yanks do anyway. Blair's government brought great improvements to the NHS, Education system, Public Services etc while his statesman role in the Peace Process will be his ultimate legacy. Thoughts?

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9840 - 31/08/2010 21:28:18    761996

I would welcome the man for his role in securing peace and self government in the north. He would have Unified Ireland no problem, only for pressures from Unionists.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 31/08/2010 21:48:18    762033

i always liked tony blair and he did seem to engage both sides of the peace process which was more than any of his predessors did. im sure he will get a warm welcome in ireland.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12122 - 31/08/2010 21:49:21    762036

I note that neither the French nor the Germans felt compelled to follow the Americans into Iraq, perhaps a sign of Blairs inherent weakness. As for the 'peace' process, lest we forget the most momentus steps, including the Downing street declaration and the first public talks between SF and the British govt were undertaken during John Majors premiership, Blair was happy to follow in the slipstream and bask in the glory.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 31/08/2010 22:00:36    762067

Tony Blair contributed more to the search for peace in the north than any British PM before him and that includes John Major.Welcome back Tony.

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 01/09/2010 08:18:41    762076

I don't agree with Iraq, doubt there are many that do, but I do believe he did what he thought was right at the time.
His role in the North was magnificent, leaving a greater legacy to this island than any PM since Gladstone.

abhainn (Galway) - Posts: 1000 - 01/09/2010 09:14:34    762111

abhainnCounty: GalwayPosts: 479762111 I don't agree with Iraq, doubt there are many that do, but I do believe he did what he thought was right at the time. His role in the North was magnificent, leaving a greater legacy to this island than any PM since Gladstone.

Some of the worst things are done with the best of intentions. What annoyed me most about him was the dishonesty. Despite knowing 10 days before the invasion that Iraq had no WMD's, he still sold the lie to the public that that was the reason for the invasion.
Then in Dec 2009 he claimed that he would have invaded Iraq anyway even if there were no WMD's. Well then why not admit it before they invaded. Why make outlandish claims based on an emigre taxi driver's conversation 2 years earlier that Iraq could launch WMD's at 45mins notice.
Because he knew the British public would not have allowed him to! The lack of honesty and integrity he showed in his involvement in the Iraq war will leave a dark stain on his legacy that no amount of time will remove.
Other than that I thought he was ok.

Corrxxx (Kerry) - Posts: 584 - 01/09/2010 10:27:12    762181

I find it interesting that so many self-proclaimed "liberal" groups are so opposed to freedom of speech for anyone who they disagree with.
It's similar to the furore that surrounded Nick Griffin's appearance on Newsnight. No matter what he represents, freedom of speech is non-negotiable. Amazing how people claimed he was advocating Nazi policies, tried to emulate the Nazi policy of censoring dissenting voices!
Seems that to be a true liberal, you must only advocate the rights of those who agree with the majority.

Blair's legacy will always be tainted by Iraq. Personally I believe he acted with honorable intentions, but the mistruths and subterfuge surroundong the WMD question leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. It's not enough to act with good intentions, you need to ensure that you are perceived to be acting with good intentions.

Blair undoubtedly played a vital role in the peace process, and for that we should always be grateful.

black&white (Sligo) - Posts: 1628 - 01/09/2010 10:39:36    762198

A Poodle for Bush !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 01/09/2010 14:30:42    762474

Tony wasn't the worst of them. Plus it was the British government who decided to go to war in support of USA. The PM can't just decide to go to war, thats called dictatorship!!

wise_guy (Tyrone) - Posts: 1584 - 01/09/2010 14:38:30    762487

He knowingly lied to the people of his country so that he could send some of its young men off to die.

That will be his legacy.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13846 - 01/09/2010 15:21:04    762545

MesAmis
County: Dublin
Posts: 1749

762545 He knowingly lied to the people of his country so that he could send some of its young men off to die.

That will be his legacy.

Sure none of that matters, he is a Catholic dont you know.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 01/09/2010 15:30:24    762564

Paddyogall,

The kids Tony sent to fight Bush's war were probably not Catholic !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 01/09/2010 16:16:18    762645

The kids Tony sent to fight Bush's war were probably not Catholic !!

Why oh why does everything in this country have to come back to religion, who cares what religion these soldiers were, nobody by the looks of things apart from sad people in Ireland? As regards Tony Blair,I always liked him, I was living in London when Blair came to power, and I always remember how cool he seemed, a young vibrant Prime Minister, which was totally at odds with the likes of John Major or Maggie, or from our own point of view Albert Reynolds, John Bruton or Charlie. Yes his legacy is tainted greatly by Iraq, but nobody in this country can forget the time and effort he put into the whole peace process, and as British PMs go, he was easily the most pro-Irish PM ever.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 01/09/2010 16:56:47    762702

wise_guy
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1007

762487 Tony wasn't the worst of them. Plus it was the British government who decided to go to war in support of USA. The PM can't just decide to go to war, thats called dictatorship!!

So he was the lone voice in protest at sending young soldiers to their death in Iraq (based on a lie which he knew to be a lie) while the givernment decided to weigh in behind Bush. Sure he must be alright then.

Corrxxx (Kerry) - Posts: 584 - 01/09/2010 17:02:55    762717

Blair was the best speaker that i have listenened to bar none,he also went over and above what was required of a PM regarding NI,downside was he was a genuine American poodle as regards Iraq,and he is also the biggest chancer of all time.

jackieblue (Antrim) - Posts: 521 - 01/09/2010 21:14:52    762979

Tony Blair, simply ignored two and a half MILLION protest marchers in February 2002 and followed the USA to war. I knew Iraq had no WOMD so tony certainly did.

Granted he must do what the USA tell him, but he didn't need to lie so convincingly on TV. All he had to do was say "Lads, Britain was finished in 1945, the Yanks run the show now".

In regard to Ireland the peace process began around the time of the 1975 cease fire. Sinn fein had to go slowly to avoid a major split, and Blair arrived at the denouement. He did however sound enthusiastic about it which certainly helped.

Now I know that the multi nationals and big business and corporations run governments, but I still cannot forgive the treachery of a man purporting to be a LABOUR leader.

Yes they achieved some things and were/will be better than the Tories, but they also sat and watched untold misery in Britain.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 01/09/2010 21:34:28    763012

Anyone watch his interview with Andrew Marr?

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13846 - 02/09/2010 17:22:52    763697

People seem to forget, if they hadnt gone into iraq saddam hussain would still be running the show, hardly a suitable alternative. What about the scores of people he has killed or lives he has ruined? Its easy to point the finger now but after 9/11 and the london bombings people cant honestly say they werent the slightest bit worried. Do people honestly think that those awful acts should be let go without a reaction?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 02/09/2010 19:28:44    763844

TheMaster
County: Mayo

I said to my children the day after 9/11 that at this moment in time George bush had been handed the greatest opportunity for world peace since time began should he be statesman enough to act on it. I believed then and still believe that at that moment in time not only did the USA have the sympathy of the world (muslim and christian, East and west , believer and non Believer) but they had the ear of the world. Had Bush then came forward with the support of the western democracies and addressed the perpetrators and their supporters and said something to the effect of.
Look what wrong do you feel is being afflicted upon you that is so great that you feel the need to carry out something like this . What do you feel we are doing wrong let us all sit down and talk about this and see if we can not find a way forward without war.
I think that response would have sucked all the wind from the sails of the enemies of the USA It would have raised the moral bank account of the USA and the perpetrators would not have found succour in any country. But unfortunately Bush and the US administration along with Whitehall went down the old and predictable route of revenge and recrimination which only perpetuates revenge and recrimination. The world needs leaders not presidents and Prime ministers and indeed Taoiseachs who are afraid to step out on a new road that is not about forcing our morals and values on other cultures or in the case of Prime ministers and taoiseachs just doing what the president tells us. It was not 9/11 in it self that set world peace back but the reaction to it.

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 02/09/2010 20:06:41    763893