Anti-war protesters launched an angry attack on Tony Blair after he sneaks into the Iraq inquiry under cover of darkness, mirroring the way he launched his illegal war in 2003.
Daily Mail
21 January 2011
Film by Harry Fear www.harryfear.co.uk
Cameras: Sebastian Krausse & Stephan Kuehn
This animation of Tony Blair photographing himself, with the flames of the "shock and awe" attack on Iraq behind him, was made by Beverley Carpenter from the now legendary collage created by artists Peter Kennard and Cat Phillips. On 20 January 2011, the day before Tony Blair was recalled to tell more lies about the illegal war he waged on the coat tails of George Bush, it was projected onto the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, opposite the venue of the Iraq Inquiry.
Mr Blair slunk into the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster more than two hours before he was due to be questioned again and well before a protest by groups including CND and the Stop The War Coalition.
It was still dark when the former prime minister arrived.
Scores of activists turned up, holding banners calling the ex-premier a liar and chanting 'Tony Blair - to The Hague', where war crimes tribunals are held.
One man wore a Tony Blair mask and handcuffed himself to a mock prison cell door to loud cheers from his colleagues.
Andrew Murray, chairman of the Stop The War Coalition, said: "Yet again he has sneaked in under cover of darkness, mirroring the way in which he launched his illegal war in 2003.
"Hopefully later today he will be asked to tell the truth about the legal advice he was given by Lord Goldsmith and also be challenged publicly about the contents of his letters to George Bush which he is still keeping secret."
Peter Brierley, whose son, Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley, died soon after being deployed to Iraq, said he was not surprised that Mr Blair arrived early and avoided being confronted by the protest, as he did last time he was questioned by the inquiry.
"He cannot be questioned properly here because he can just walk out any time he chooses. He should face a proper court and be questioned by barristers and lawyers. He should face a criminal investigation because he is a war criminal. He killed my son and I will continue campaigning until he is brought to justice."
Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) said it was a 'disgrace' that letters exchanged between Mr Blair and former U.S. president George Bush were not being made public.
"If this inquiry means anything then all the relevant papers must be released."
Bruce Kent of CND told the protesters: 'Tony Blair must know that the game is up because fellow members of the establishment are now beginning to turn against him.
"What he did was a disaster and he effectively put two fingers up to the very fragile structure put in place to try to save generations from the scourge of war. How many other thugs and bandits around the world are now saying, well if he can get away with it, so will we?"
John Rees, one of the founders of the Stop The War Coalition, said the inquiry was a waste of money which would not get to the truth of the Iraq war.
The coalition said there were growing calls for Mr Blair to face a war crimes tribunal, where all the correspondence between Mr Blair and Mr Bush could be revealed.
