Iraq War 20 Years On: “Some People Can’t Bring Themselves To Admit It Was A Mistake,” Peter Hitchens

The Iraq War began 20 years ago today on March 20 2003. Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush ordered the invasion.
TalkTV’s Mike Graham is joined by Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens to reflect on the war, 20 years on.
Peter tells Mike: “There are still some people who can’t bring themselves to admit it was a dreadful mistake …
“The ones who made me cross at the time and the ones who continue to make me cross, are the ones who should’ve protested against it, voted against it in Parliament and didn’t.”
#talktv #talkradio

[@rogernewman5903]

It’s ironical that an international court can cite Putin for war crimes in Ukraine and ignore Blair and Bush for Iraq invasion. double standards.

[@shamteal8614]

Just proves that the ICC has become no more than a political tool of the West and no longer has any credibility.

[@davidcoleman2796]

100%

[@eighty88eight]

Decimating and killing millions of Afghans Libyan Iraqi Syrian, men woman children. Thus spreading democracy, freedom in the Middle East . . . and the love for America ! !

[@eighty88eight]

Blair & Bush. Two white stereotypical, plantation owners . . untouchable !

[@1aatlas]

@@eighty88eightWith freedom bombs, the white phosphorous of democracy, the depleted uranium shells of peace.

[@olivethrush7450]

It was not a mistake. It was a deliberate act.

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

I agree. And by even suggesting it was "a mistake" there is the implication that the original motives and intentions behind the "shock and awe," and subsequent military occupation, were decent and honourable.....and that, somehow, the project was diverted or otherwise ruined by changing circumstances, the fortunes of war, or whatever.....leading to the ongoing humanitarian disaster which DID occur. When in fact the entire thing was a cynical, calculated imperialistic war adventure from the start. From the same crowd that blew up WTC and more recently detroyed nord stream gas pipeline

[@hittitecharioteer]

Blair believed it'd be a short war in a distant country soon forgotten about - but would win a deep friendship with his USA globalist pals. Obama arrived and said you'd be at the back of a queue for a trade deal; and mass migration that even affects here (🇮🇪) and Ireland had nothing to do with it! You need to bring back hanging for what your evil leaders did to Europe.

[@olivethrush7450]

@@GOLDSMITHEXILE Absolutely. The Ba$tard had to be stopped. One does not need to find a civilised reason to thump a Ba$tard. If you have the means to do it just thump him and move on.

[@happinesstan]

A deliberate act executed to perfection. Let's not forget there were actually two wars. The fist, illegal war was executed swiftly and efficiently because they needed to install a government who could request our assistance after we left.

[@andrewoliver8930]

Promoted by the owner of this station.

[@jean-marcevans1439]

I remember clearly the horror I felt when Blair made that announcement. Complete and utter madness. How he can show his face in public is beyond belief. As Hitchens says, Blair should enter a monastery and spend the rest of his days begging for forgiveness.

[@NEEJER]

Blair is demonic

[@robertheap2911]

Don’t forget Blair converted to Catholicism to gain repentance 😢

[@thomasreed49]

Tony Blairwords I have seen The evidence of weapons of mass destruction To protect others I am unable to show the evidence. That was a bear face lie they didn’t exist. And to think he’s still breathing.

[@wallacewhybrow2705]

@jean-marcevans1439 No need for a monastery. Simply lock him up, plenty of time for contemplation.

[@shrunkensimon]

​@@robertheap2911 He's a sycophant. His conversion is just to get close to the real hidden hand of power

[@nautilus1872]

George Galloway said "Children died before they knew they were Iraqis, but for no other reason, other than they were Iraqis."

[@takkiejakkie5458]

Did/would he say the same about Ukrainians? George Galloway is a Russian propaganda machine.

[@notcomply]

And the hypocrisy of the squeaky clean west calling Putin a war criminal is nauseating

[@waynus2021]

Blair and Bush set an example to the rest of the world that an international mandate for war was simply not needed , they sowed the seeds for the Ukrainian invasion

[@phillipecook3227]

Absolutely.

[@stumac869]

What's sickening is that we get dragged into the mess our politicians create by going to war most don't want. It's time governments needed a majority people's vote before doing anything, it's not their country, it belongs to us all.

[@lespaul2000]

They'll just brainwash the public with their psyops and Propaganda.

[@aydan0161]

I would love to agree with this but unfortunately the vast majority of the general public are mindless droids that will believe whatever they’re told to believe. I think the older you get the more you realise that so-called ‘democracy’ only works when you have citizens with critical thinking skills.

[@tauntontaunton6128]

I TOTALLY AGREE

[@satishkumarkn1164]

It was not a mistake. It was done deliberately. 20 years ago England was throwing bombs to kill millions in Iraq. Today it is funding food banks for its own people and looks upto Rwanda for solving its criminal gang problems. In the mean time Pakistani gangs teach "culture" to its girls in the name of "grooming" and the police are just watching. Ha ha ha..... Congratulations to England on this wonderful achievement. Even God is too powerless to save England.

[@paullynch1938]

Spot on ,they want us to go to kill people who have done fuck all to us ,you don’t see them on the front line, this people need arresting, WHY isn’t it happening, it’s beyond belief

[@justgivemethetruth]

And we're still taking it out on Julian Assange who turned the spotlight on these abuses.

[@cybercheese3]

Yeah, arrest the guy exposing war crimes, and let the perpetrators go free...

[@waynus2021]

the only thing that gives me hope these days is reading comments from guys like you who also understand how this shitshow works , i sometimes feel surrounded by morons who just follow the narrative and believe whatever the mainstream (who are controlled) spew out at the time. I feel like Rik fkkng Grimes in a sea of mindless zombies

[@1962pjh]

As a Canadian, I'm proud of our PM at the time Jean Chretien, for making the right decision, and not joining the US and UK in the war in Iraq.

[@aydan0161]

I’ve never even considered that fact. That is impressive. When you consider that Australia (one of the worlds current dictatorships) also contributed to the invasion. Well played Jean.

[@matimus100]

Prince Andrew loves this silly comment

[@aydan0161]

@@matimus100 says the self proclaimed ‘Viking’… somehow I don’t think I’ll be listening to your political insight anytime soon

[@robbrewer2036]

Don't forget the little crap of steel in australia.

[@beewisebeestronger6224]

But there was Canadian troops there wasn't there? Or was that during the occupation , they were already in Afghanistan

[@AntAdam1]

To think that Blair is still trying to push himself into the front and centre of our lives, like a stain that you can't get out.

[@elliotgregory3356]

Apparently he is front runner for the WEF top job when Klaus pops his clogs.....

[@tommytitmouse]

and a filthy dirty Stain at that.

[@helmethead72]

Who was held accountable by The Hague for our devastating war of aggression against Iraq? And imagine our outrage and fury if the Chinese or Russians had supplied weapons, ammunition and intelligence to the people of Iraq to help defend themselves against our invasion? Our hypocrisy is utterly revolting.

[@waynus2021]

and imagine if the Russians and Chinese had signed an agreement (Minsk) that was legally binding that they would not expand their influence in a Westerly direction and then proceeded to attempt putting arms and bases in a Western location on the USA`s border................. the history books suggest that it didn`t go so well last time (Cuba) but that is EXACTLY what has happened here . I cannot be the only Westerner that has sympathy towards the Russians at this point?

[@SimonWallwork]

As a Tory voter (well, ex Tory) myself, I cannot forgive them for supporting the war. Only the Tories could have restrained Blair, but like idiots, they backed him 100%.

[@annharding9634]

Sounds familiar.

[@clivet3252]

We basically had no opposition while Blair was in power. The strongest opposition came from the backbenches, and even from the frontbenches when it came to Iraq.

[@redbison6417]

Tories and Labour agree on all major issues, the choice between parties is illusion.

[@andrewoliver8930]

​@@redbison6417 The Tories could have sided with the Labour rebels but decided to back Blair and his need to suck up to the US.

[@redbison6417]

@@andrewoliver8930 could have... But where never going to.

[@bobbysilver272]

From their point of view, it wasn't a mistake. It all went according to their Agenda and so it continues with other steps....

[@natashawatson385]

Exactly but we live in this parallel universe where people pretend these things are done by mistake 😮

[@happinesstan]

Reinds me of this Baroness who was on Marr once, talking about the British Empire "Of course we made mistakkes" she said. It sickened me because when people make mistakes THEY should be the ones to bear the consequences.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@happinesstan Try telling that to the financial sector.

[@shamteal8614]

It wasn't a mistake, they knew exactly what they were doing.

[@arleneevans6342]

I'm beginning to think that way too

[@margaret426]

I agree & looks like they want to do it all again.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@margaret426 Yes, only this time it may ultimately involve nuclear weapons.

[@philipmichael4106]

Maybe they are afraid of international arrest warrants .

[@fraserbailey6347]

If only they were. The fact is that Blair, Campbell, Bush, Cheney et al will never be arrested. The evil is simply off the scale.

[@jeffreyuprichard3754]

Why wasn't Hussain arrested for mass murder after golf war one?.

[@hittitecharioteer]

@@fraserbailey6347 One can but agree 100%.

[@paulgibbons2320]

They should be... But they carry on without a care in the world.

[@kiwitrainguy]

@@paulgibbons2320 ...because they are part of the clique that RUN the World.

[@fraserbailey6347]

As always, Peter speaks more sense, with more articulacy and more power, in 10 minutes than the rest of the media manages in 10 years.

[@tommyrotton9468]

he is talking a load of bollocks TBH. Just look at all the surrounding Muslim nations and what happened to the Jews and Christians when Sharia started to rule as the majority. If we follow his advice, you might as well sign up to Islamisation right now

[@hittitecharioteer]

Peter Hitchens speaks. The World should be listening. His thinking is ordered, born of experience and ultimately the seed of a good education. Truly a voice of sanity in this age of lunacy.

[@tommyrotton9468]

@@hittitecharioteer his worldview is severely tainted, which makes his opinions biased and incorrect at times. Be sceptical and test ever opinions worth.

[@StraightWhiteMan.]

@@tommyrotton9468 What are you talking about? Just stay in your lands and leave Muslims and Muslim lands alone.

[@gerardk51]

@@tommyrotton9468 Do you think the invasion of Iraq halted Islamisation? It increased it! What colour is the sky on your planet?

[@user-sh5jq4pmlg]

It was not a mistake, it was a crime! A very big one!

[@SteveXNYC]

Never a crime. A investment in the American experience.

[@sisiphas]

I never tire of listening to you two gentlemen (and I mean that In its traditional sense. Thank you both.

[@adrenalinmyride5634]

We all thought 9/11 was the game changer In hindsight Iraq has done more to the attitude of self in the West

[@francescostello1377]

For the best journalism on The Iraq, Middle East disaster, genocide, watch George Galloway on Moats, Colonel Douglas MacGregor, and many more.

[@seanmoran2743]

Col Macgregor has been excellent on America’s Foreign Policy in the Tragedy of Ukraine

[@pikebishop8516]

@@seanmoran2743 he thought Ukraine can't win this war since the beginning.

[@abucs]

I remember in Australia at the time everyone was saying there was no reason to go to war and yet everyone was aware the political elite wasn't going to consult us about it anyway. The control of the country by unaccountable political elites is the biggest problem in the west still today.

[@andrewoliver8930]

The parties in the UK are run by the US Media owner, Rupert.

[@WiseFool888]

Hear hear!

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

I was one of the hundreds of thousands in Sydney who marched against it. I even knew one of the guys who wrote "no war" on the Opera House. Now we're buying nuclear subs to contain China. No democracy here at all.

[@user-pu3kq1by3q]

Do not always agree with Peter Hitchens but on the Iraq war he is totally correct. We should also never have become involved in Afghanistan or Libya. I served for 24 years and could not believe it when we went into Afghanistan. Look at the mess we have left and the people killed in other peoples countries because of arrogance. We have Putin on war crimes when Blair carries on causing trouble, total hypocrisy and double standards. In 20 years if any us are left alive, we will discussing our involvement with Ukraine.

[@hittitecharioteer]

Peter Hitchens' thinking is ordered, born of a breadth of experience, and ultimately, the seed of a good education. Truly a voice of sanity in this age of lunacy.

[@thomasgow9475]

It wasn't just Blair, MP's from BOTH Parties voted to go to war on a lie.

[@maxy-sp7cn]

To this day, not one person has gone to jail for the war, and not one person has gone to jail for the 2008 financial crisis, but the taxpayer has picked up the tab for both disasters. The Ukraine war is history repeating itself.

[@elliotgregory3356]

Agreed 💯👍 Also the banking system is still acting like it did pre 2008!

[@ErnaldtheSaxon]

Hello, my name is Montague William 3rd. And what I will tell you may well sound absurd. But the less who believe it the better for me. For you see I'm in Banking and big industry. For many a year we have controlled your lives. While you all just struggle and suffer in strife. We created the things that you don't really need. Your sports cars and Fashions and Plasma TV's. I remember it clearly how all this begun. Family secrets from Father to Son. Inherited knowledge that gives me the edge. While you peasants, people lie sleeping at night in your beds. We control the money that controls your lives. Whilst you worship false idols and wouldn't think twice. Of selling your souls for a place in the sun. These things that won't matter when your time is done. But as long as they're there to control the masses. I just sit back and consider my assets. Safe in the knowledge that I have it all. While you common people are losing your jobs. You see I just hold you in utter contempt. But the smile on my face well it makes me exempt. For I have the weapon of global TV. Which gives us connection and invites empathy. You would really believe that we look out for you. While we Bankers and Brokers are only a few. But if you saw that then you'd take back the power. Hence daily terrors to make you all cower. The Panics the crashes the wars and the illness. That keep you from finding your Spiritual Wholeness. We rig the game and we buy out both sides. To keep you enslaved in your pitiful lives. So go out and work as your body clock fades. And when it's all over a few years from the grave. You'll look back on all this and just then you'll see. That your life was nothing, a mere fantasy. There are very few things that we don't now control. To have Lawyers and Police Force was always a goal. Doing our bidding as you march on the street. But they never realise they're only just sheep. For real power resides in the hands of a few. You voted for parties what more could you do. But what you don't know is they're one and the same. Old Gordon has passed good old David the reigns. And you'll follow the leader who was put there by you. But your blood it runs red while our blood runs blue. But you simply don't see its all part of the game. Another distraction like money and fame. Get ready for wars in the name of the free. Vacinations for illness that will never be. The assault on your children's impressionable minds, and a micro chipped world. You'll put up no fight. Information suppression will keep you in toe Depopulation of peasants was always our goal But eugenics was not what we hoped it would be Oh yes it was us that funded Nazis! But as long as we own all the media too What's really happening does not concern you So just go on watching your plasma TV And the world will be run by the ones you can't see

[@garrybro12791]

To think that many in the UK criticise Russia for what it’s doing in Ukraine, while believing the UK isn’t a country with blood on its hands. Fools.

[@hittitecharioteer]

Blair believed it'd be a short war in a distant country soon forgotten about - but would win a deep friendship with his USA globalist pals. Obama arrived and said you'd be at the back of a queue for a trade deal; and the resulting mass migration that is devastating Europe (and even affects here 🇮🇪 in the extreme West), and Ireland had nothing to do with it! You need to bring back hanging for what your evil leaders did to Europe.

[@jamiecorrigan3241]

TONY BLAIR HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS.

[@rozzgrey801]

Try to not be so stupid and bigoted, Garry. We can criticise whoever we want for any reasons we see fit, and that's all you need to know.

[@SinisterTantru3]

@@jamiecorrigan3241all of the people behind his decisions are guilty

[@jamiecorrigan3241]

@@SinisterTantru3 Too True !!!

[@robertjirava942]

I am growing to love Peter more and more with time. I will always love Christopher, because of his love of language. As George Galloway said Christopher wrote like an angel. And I know Christopher loved irony. My fondest hope is that one day the two brothers will embrace in heaven, where Christopher awaits Peter. I love them both.

[@tommyrotton9468]

Christopher will probably give Peter a Hitchslap for being such a plonker

[@robertjirava942]

@@tommyrotton9468 what a garbage comment

[@tommyrotton9468]

@@robertjirava942 but neither the less a very likely occurrence. Christopher was always the more intelligent of the two.

[@seanmoran2743]

@@tommyrotton9468 Christopher pushed for intervention in these places you muppet He definitely deserves the slap

[@seanmoran2743]

Your hero Christopher pushed for these interventions you muppet

[@jackiep5009]

American here. Some of us tried. Sigh. I have learned we can not protest our way out of these things. Money - hit them in the money hard and fast.

[@SteveXNYC]

The money is fuel for evil. Tell your birds.

[@abuyusef27]

PH spot on again.

[@adamlee8990]

Love listening to Peter Hitchens

[@stirlingmoss4621]

Blair's Words of Mass Deception. All those British servicemen's lives thrown away for his ego

[@joevolcano6720]

Just to be pedantic, I believe it was John LeCarre's 'The Tailor of Panama' (not 'The Russia House') that was inspired by Graham Greene's 'Our Man in Havana'. Both deal with how intellegence is manufactured for the sake of both parties. Great books too!

[@knickertwistcopperby6066]

I am bingeing on le Carre at present and have just finished 'A Perfect Spy'. What a work of genius! Greene is one of my favourite authors - has been for years. My conclusion: what a waste of money, time and brain space the world of espionage actually is. It is a racket. The people involved are narcissistic warmongers!

[@defaultYTchannel]

It was no mistake…

[@eugenemurray2940]

The lesson of History is... We don't learn from it 😢

[@SteveXNYC]

They repeat it..😂🤣👍

[@robertwalker7924]

and Australia didnt want to be a part of it but P.M. John Howard did. Did I miss the mention of him ?

[@anthonybolton2717]

It was no fcuking mistake

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

Despite his brother "converting" me to Atheism, I love Peter many times more. In fact, I wish there was a hell for Christopher to go to for propagandising for that horrible war.

[@richardhorrocks1460]

I baked a tub of Ben & Jerry's at 200c in a fan assisted oven... that was a mistake. Butchering hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings, including children and babies blown to pieces and burnt alive, is not a mistake, it is criminal and evil. And shame on all of us who placate our own collective guilt by pretending that 'objecting' is enough. Those deaths are on all of us.

[@areyouavinalaff]

On all of us? You wear the guilt if you want, but I had no hand in the matter.

[@adamski320]

No. No it’s not. I have no guilt, I didn’t kill anyone.

[@bertiescunsbutch9323]

We don't live in a healthy democracy to be able to stop the likes of Blair and Campbell, its all set up we have no real voice.

[@unitedkingdomoffiveeyes9765]

It was roughly about 300 000 that sadly lost their lives, and that is ALL over Iraq. The British were mostly in Basra and the south, and the death stats are extremely low in comparison. You make it sound like British soldiers were just butchering everyone in sight, not true. Actually, nobody rearly knows how many died, but what we do know is that the sadam regime was much worse.

[@areyouavinalaff]

@@unitedkingdomoffiveeyes9765 I wouldn't pay too much attention, he sounds like a left wing, blue haired, guilt tripping narcissist who needs a cause to virtue signal over, and likely wasn't even born at the time.

[@mpierce672]

I am always fascinated by what Mr Hitchens has to say. Where can I find more information on what was discussed? What books, articles and official minutes should I read to understand more? Mr Hitchens mentioned the FCO response to Sadam’s attack on the Kurds; where can I find that?

[@Moskow87]

Mistake is when I send a post card to the wrong address... That was something else.

[@johnrambo99999]

I have served over 21 years in the military. I look back on the iraq war, and feel disgrace and anguish. Its a shame my brothers in arms died fighting an illegal war. I am the first to criticise the wests "grand standing" in the modern political environment. Listening to those who should know better, criticising Russia for indulging a precedent WE set. I am leaving our armed forces, not with a sense of pride, but with a quiet embarrasment and disgust.

[@tu0ootu]

Peter is always right people should listen

[@robertbroatch8013]

Tony Blair’s legacy!

[@sdrawkcabUK]

Why a shortened clip?

[@jamiecorrigan3241]

AND TONY BLAIR NOW WORKING HIS 'TRICKS' IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ~~~ SICK ~~~ BUT NOT IN THE MODERN MEANING OF THE WORD.

[@SagaciousFrank]

Unfortunately I don't read much these days. It takes time and a focus I rarely have. But years ago I read Our Man in Havana recommended on Hitchens Blog, and it's an excellent read. Many years after I watched the movie adaptation starring Alec Guinness which was very good.

[@jayaybe1]

I know exactly what you mean. I got into reading Graham Greene last year via The Quiet American. A terrific author and well worth dipping your toe in again, even if only reading a chapter a day 😉.

[@lk1590]

Mistake? A calculated and deliberate crime, more like.

[@junfenghuang6463]

IHow come American and British war criminals are not punished?

[@MrNed78]

As an Iraqi born British Citizen, I can tell you the era of the war and its aftermath were hell for my extended family which has left them deeply traumatised and we lost many family members in the ensuing chaos and collapse of the country. The British public were lied to and the hidden cost of the war is the enormous migration from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. don't forget many Iraqi's initially fled to Syria and that was a factor in creating the difficult economic conditions that led Syria to collapse and descend into Civil war. Then the huge tidal wave of migration started. You cannot just destroy a country of 30+ million people and expect there is no blowback and consequences. Yet all I see is that those who called for the war have failed upwards and been rewarded handsomely by the global elite. I guess we have to wait for justice in the next life!

[@shamteal8614]

I'm sure you have the sympathy of the majority of British people who knew they were being lied to but were powerless to do anything about it yet those including Blair and Campbell receive protection from blowback whereas ordinary decent British people pay the price. I'd always believed the British democratic state was so designed a crime like that perpetrated against the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya could never happen, god was I wrong, I didn't count on a snide meglamanic like Blair.

[@waynus2021]

i can only apologise on behalf of our leaders my friend , they DO NOT speak for the people of this nation and we hate them as much as you do . that war was disgusting and should never have started in the first place , Blair and Bush should be in the Hague for crimes against humanity well ahead of Mr Putin in the queue

[@eugenemurray2940]

'The Blair Creature!'...🤣 A Peter 'Hitch Slap'! I am sure The Late CH would laugh! Some common ground there!

[@bigbong620]

The late CH was the Bush administration's useful idiot.

[@Channel66269]

I’m glad there’s Americans out there that know that we in Europe do laugh when Americans say about Russia invading another country while all Americans ever do is invade countries

[@solomontekle4859]

So a deliberate war crime is now labeled as ‘mistake’

[@petercricket]

Min) 0 . 35... And the Spanish Lackey, Jose Maria Aznar,, let's not forget,,

[@mychathura]

It was not a mistake. It was a Crime.

[@jessicagoodall1458]

I wish Peter had his own show on talktv

[@petew5289]

Should have stayed out of Iraq and Afghanistan

[@markwatkins8309]

Beyond a mistake.

[@andrewoliver8930]

Blair got rich, Bush got richer and so did the main protagonists. Good result wasn't it?

[@otablott7779]

Tony Blair gets to live his life as millionaire while thousands of Iraqi children lay in graves because of his actions. Sadly the colour of the skin they were born in dictates the value placed on their short lives. The horrors brought on Iraq thanks to that man are the thing of nightmares

[@finty5457]

Thousands of Iraqi children?

[@otablott7779]

​@@finty5457 how many Iraqi children died during the invasion bombing, the occupation killings and the sectarian violence?

[@finty5457]

@@otablott7779 feel free to cite your sources. Your statement, your burden of proof. Also, what do you mean occupation killings. Are you suggesting uk or American soldiers went around killing children?

[@otablott7779]

@@finty5457 You can find information on the number of brown Iraqis murdered by white American and British invaders in publications such as the Lancet report

[@finty5457]

@@otablott7779 children in the thousands?

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

He is right that it was a disaster for the West - however, here's where he seems to be missing the bigger picture, what lead to it were things like intervention in the former Yugoslavia, all the interventions that happened under Clinton's administration(Somalia, air strikes in Iraq's no fly zone, etc.) and as he mentioned 9/11(but I suspect that Hitchens believes the official story of that), and even more importantly - it was no mistake - it was deliberate. For the powers that be, it all went according to plan - Blair, Bush and co. weren't arrested for war crimes - and they even managed to win an election afterwards.

[@andrewoliver8930]

Backed by this station's foreign owner

[@isobellickes8543]

And was given an “honour” afterwards.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

@@isobellickes8543 Oh yes - a Knight of the Garter - no less.

[@seanmoran2743]

Mike should get Col Macgregor on for a Macgregor half hour

[@fireflyrobert]

Hear Hear!

[@chrisedwards2272]

He wouldn't dare

[@mickeyh1961]

Those responsible with their dark souls will burn eternal in a Hellish world of their own creation for their evil deeds

[@t.jconnolly6492]

Who remembers sacchi and sacchi if that is how you spell it the are advertiseing company used to sell the war to the public at that particular time

[@rayscott7548]

It wasn't bungled,it was and is a game of chess but it's being played by the same thing

[@derekmoore8224]

There was No mistake

[@andrewoliver8930]

The owner of this station's other outlets, such as The Sun, backed Blair. The owner even made him Godfather to his child.

[@drewski1441]

The Hypocrisy of it all...😒

[@christophershrimpton7627]

Peter Hitchens quite rightly points to the influence of Dick Cheney in the GW Bush presidency but the true motive for the policies on the Middle East was nothing to do with spreading freedom and democracy. The basis for those policies was laid out in The Project For The New American Century which was all about the need to advance American hegemony in order to secure access to whatever resources would be needed to maintain their extravagant lifestyle in competition with the rest of the world. It’s this selfish greed that is resented by much of the rest of the world, not least because of the havoc and misery the pursuit of these policies has caused and is causing. The disciples, protégés,and in one case a spouse,of the authors of that document now inhabit the State Department, exerting their influence on Biden over Ukraine.

[@sav7568]

Er, not really. It was all about Israel. " a new strategy for securing the realm ". In that famous sentence " the realm " was Israel not the US.

[@christophershrimpton7627]

@@sav7568 I was deliberately hesitant to suggest that the motive of these policies and actions included weakening of Israel’s adversaries, especially Iran. I also wonder if the orchestration of the precipitating event might have required greater competence than the alleged offenders possessed.

[@johkupohkuxd1697]

​@@sav7568 How exactly did toppling Ba'athist Iraq help Israel?

[@sav7568]

@@johkupohkuxd1697 One less enemy to worry about.

[@cynthiagarnham1157]

@@johkupohkuxd1697 yup, Saddam, Gadaffi and. Assad , were and are not Muslim fundimentalists. Women could wear what they liked, get a good education, jobs ect. . Now look, with the take over by fanatics, women are back in the dark ages!

[@rextyrannos4517]

20 years later and all of the things I felt as a teenaged "revolutionary" leftist about this war exactly what incredibly established respected conservatives now hold. Amazing to see how the overton window shifts while some actually hold solid. I can recall Christopher Hitchens' support for the war was a very confusing to a young atheist leftist and really made me start reassessing things.

[@davidcoleman2796]

Our man in Havana is a great book and I really love the movie with Alec Guinness. Castro came to power the very next year . The movie was filmed in Havana . Amazing history .

[@lorenzbroll101]

The IMC needs consumers!

[@ThePierre58]

I was delivering supplies to Erbil, the Kurdish part of Iraq. They were selling portraits of GWBush. He was their saviour. As for WMD, I say this, Iraqi desert is immense, " MMFD, miles and miles of f@£ing desert" to paraphrase a RAF pilot. Even the local Iraqi truckers told tales of burials at night. Richard 3 was in a Tescos carpark for 300 years, technology will find stuff in the future.

[@cjryan88]

these people should be arrested of this war and loss of life

[@andrewoliver8930]

The owner of TalkTV made Blair a Godfather to his child.

[@georgeconroy9908]

When you mention this was the answer from others is. Whataboutery😂

[@Crouchy232323]

The gammon guy is very agreeable

[@ivangangur8207]

Add John Howard, honest Johnny as per LNP. Of Australia. To the list of war criminals.

[@equaliser2265]

Mistake is not the word, Mass Murder is the word.

[@sheilamashali6426]

‘’Blair Creature’’ best description of him so far. I admire his stance on Ukraine / Russia War.

[@stity23]

While Julian Assange is still in jail !

[@repentri6624]

His standards of judging seem very high and strict in what qualifies as an atrocity or crime. It seems alot of people praise Nolm's brilliance but it's a fairly narrow minded perspective.

[@davidrobertson9271]

PH can be quite acidic on occasion

[@fourstarfuel9702]

It wasn't a mistake. It was a conscious act. End of.

[@keyboarddancers7751]

I remember watching the repeated news footage of the WTC destruction on the night of 9/11 and saying to my girlfriend "we'll be going to war over this."

[@groomys67]

Ooooooh you clever boy. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

[@christopherfleming7505]

Of all the politicians I have known in my life, I think I hate Tony Blair the most. There are no words to express the evil he did while in power.

[@ddjay1363]

Peter Hitchens' brother , Christopher was a very loud advocate for the 2nd Iraq invasion. He was adamant it was justified to 'get rid of Sadam' and his 'evil fascist party' etc.

[@bigbong620]

The Bush administration's useful idiot.

[@robertburke2246]

Christopher Hitchens has to be the only person who was against the gulf war and for the Iraq war.

[@seandelap8587]

What would the Hichens household been like on the eve of the Iraq war because didn't his brother Christopher support the Iraq war

[@loafersheffield]

Yes. Christopher is on record as saying that his support for the Iraq invasion was to liberate the Kurds. The only group scattered across three borders that did not have their independent nation state. His journalism took him to Iraq and he was appalled by the state of fear that Iraqis experienced under the Hussein regime. Dank did a mad lads on Uday Hussein. As per, intervention without a long term strategy for stabilising and ensuring legitimate power , combined with a poorly thought out exit strategy, left the country with a power vacuum. Just like Afghanistan. How and why do they eff it up, one country to the next? Incompetence or deliberate?

[@williamwilson4162]

It wasn't a mistake it was very deliberate, Saddams mistake was threatening to sell oil in Euros instead of dollars that was when they decided he had to go.

[@ElaIEO]

Mistake ! It was a crime.

[@sadmancaves]

this is not an ideological thing it's about oil and money

[@darrenlee9237]

I completely agree with Peter. Although interestingly his brother Christopher was a staunch advocate of the George W. Bush government's decision to go back into Iraq in 2003.

[@cesarpolitics7576]

If you think they are mad at them because they invaded iraq it is not too difficult to convince yourself that they would have done it anyway.

[@jota3732]

Oil oil oil nothing else, most people wouldn’t even know where Iraq was if it didn’t have any .

[@supperspreader]

Interesting observation of Hitchens to suggest the war would have gone ahead with out the pretext of 9:11. 🤔

[@hittitecharioteer]

Foreign policy driven by America's military industrial complex. It's quite hard to argue with Peter Hitchens' reasonings.

[@kevinbillington9773]

Zalensky should be careful, as you say we supported Saddam against Iran.

[@freebornjohn2687]

It was a mistake to invade Iraq. If the US and its allies had just focused on Afghanistan it would have had a far better chance of developing into a stable country and not being dragged back to the dark ages, and the Middle East would probably avoided the chaos of the Islamic State. One thing to remember is that the Tories supported the war and also would have had the same policy if they had been in power. Blair was too caught up in his relationship with Bush to see the wood for the trees.

[@themccarthyplan2020]

The controversy of Zionism 🕊️❤️🙏☘️

[@jamesgallagher5933]

WARS MAKE MONEY

[@onastick2411]

I was driving to work, down the M50, and it came on the radio (would have been Radio 4), that they were preparing to attack Iraq, or sent them an ultimatum or something, and literally I was laughing to myself, and saying out loud, someone's going to be in hot water for this, they mean Iran (and about time too). I was stunned when I actually got to work, and realised they actually meant Iraq. Totally, why them, what the hell have they done, other than be irritating. Risky Shift, Group Think, more powerful than you think.

[@adambritain5774]

Why is an invasion of Iran acceptable in your opinion?

[@onastick2411]

@@adambritain5774 Well, Iran is an enemy proclaimed, of the West, and run by a theocratic cabal, who run the country by a barbaric backwards religion, by the edicts of their imaginary friends. They believe that Mo on his shining chariot will come down to save them. primitive barbarians that they are. I would merely reduce the country to rubble, and leave the Mullah's hanging in rows for public persuasion, and their Mosques a smoking ruin. After they've been swatted like a fly, they'd probably get the message. Of course for 9/11, I'd do worse than that. Hope this clears it up for you?

[@jonoessex]

Well done to Peter a right-winger in opposing the war. It's worth pointing out though that he initially thought about supporting it.

[@troygregory7672]

people will never learn politiisons what ever country are corupt

[@kevinstanley3581]

I basically agree with Hitchens on the Iraq war and think Tony Bliar should have been sent to prison for lying to the British people. He also refers that the Americans were looking for a pretext ie. WMD and invading a sovereign country against international law - quite right but didn't Putin use 'Nazis' as a pretext for invading Ukraine, also a sovereign country, which Hitchens blamed on the West and NATO expansion and not on Putin's desire to recreate Imperial Russia. I do smell some BS from Hitchens.

[@EdMcF1]

Indeed: He's a stopped clock, right twice a day.

[@rushshukla4636]

Imperial Russia is a distraction. The West and Russia are united in creating a New World Order and imposing the Chinese Social Credit System or CBDC (Central Banks Digital Currency). Look at the bigger picture not the media propaganda. They will use this war as a springboard for imposing world tyranny which was always the end goal of Western Imperialism.

[@andrewoliver8930]

The owner of this station backed him.

[@oldschoolcockneylover8138]

The fact Allistar Campbell is paraded about like some elder statesman to tell us off and take the moral highground over issues like the EU on the BBC is enough to make a fly sick!

[@MGCaverly]

The Blair “creature” … Nice one Mr Hitchens!

[@1942december]

America has a history of interfering in other countries, and leaving them worse off. Countries who aided them are guilty too.