We're One Crucial Step Closer to Seeing Tony Blair at The Hague

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/09/04-5


Tony Blair arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London to give evidence on media ethics to the Leveson inquiry in May 2012. (Dan Kitwood/Getty)

For years it seems impregnable, then suddenly the citadel collapses. An ideology, a fact, a regime appears fixed, unshakeable, almost geological. Then an inch of mortar falls, and the stonework begins to slide. Something of this kind happened over the weekend.

When Desmond Tutu wrote that Tony Blair should be treading the path to The Hague, he de-normalized what Blair has done. Tutu broke the protocol of power – the implicit accord between those who flit from one grand meeting to another – and named his crime. I expect that Blair will never recover from it.

The offense is known by two names in international law: the crime of aggression and a crime against peace. It is defined by the Nuremberg principles as the "planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression". This means a war fought for a purpose other than self-defense: in other words out with articles 33 and 51 of the UN Charter.

That the invasion of Iraq falls into this category looks indisputable. Blair's cabinet ministers knew it, and told him so. His attorney general warned that there were just three ways in which it could be legally justified: "self-defense, humanitarian intervention, or UN security council authorization. The first and second could not be the base in this case." Blair tried and failed to obtain the third.

[leftyohiolib]

1. maybe the lap-dog will roll on his miaster

[geckosfeet]

3. Can't see how he can avoid, it if he is forced to tell the truth.

[cali]

2. Anyone who believes this is prime for bidding on a bridge in Brooklyn.

and if you actually read the entire article that becomes pretty clear.

[Octafish]

4. Warmongers are war profiteers with political power.

Thanks to Bishop Tutu, the traitors' time may soon run out.