Desmond Tutu: Bush, Blair should face trial for Iraq War

U.S. President George W. Bush and U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair shakes hands on the steps of 10 Downing Street in London, November 20, 2003. / Julian Herbert/Getty Images

(AP) LONDON - Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu called Sunday for Tony Blair and George Bush to face prosecution at the International Criminal Court for their role in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq

Tutu, the retired Anglican Church's archbishop of South Africa, wrote in an op-ed piece for The Observer newspaper that the ex-leaders of Britain and the United States should be made to "answer for their actions."

The Iraq war "has destabilized and polarized the world to a greater extent than any other conflict in history," wrote Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984.

"Those responsible for this suffering and loss of life should be treading the same path as some of their African and Asian peers who have been made to answer for their actions in the Hague," he added.

"Leadership and morality are indivisible. Good leaders are the custodians of morality. The question is not whether Saddam Hussein was good or bad or how many of his people he massacred. The point is that Mr Bush and Mr Blair should not have allowed themselves to stoop to his immoral level.

"If it is acceptable for leaders to take drastic action on the basis of a lie, without an acknowledgement or an apology when they are found out, what should we teach our children?"

Tutu: Why I had no choice but to spurn Tony Blair (Observer)

The Hague, Netherlands, based court is the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal and has been in operation for 10 years. So far it has launched prosecutions only in Africa, including in Sudan, Congo, Libya and Ivory Coast.

Tutu has long been a staunch critic of the Iraq war, while others opposed to the conflict — including playwright Harold Pinter — have previously called for Bush and Blair to face prosecution at the Hague.

"The then-leaders of the U.S. and U.K. fabricated the grounds to behave like playground bullies and drive us further apart. They have driven us to the edge of a precipice where we now stand — with the specter of Syria and Iran before us," said Tutu, who last week withdrew from a conference in South Africa due to Blair's presence at the event.

While the International Criminal Court can handle cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, it does not currently have the jurisdiction to prosecute crimes of aggression. Any potential prosecution over the Iraq war would likely come under the aggression category.

The U.S. is among nations which do not recognize the International Criminal Court.

In response to Tutu, Blair said he had great respect for the archbishop's work to tackle apartheid in South Africa, but accused him of repeating inaccurate criticisms of the Iraq war.

"To repeat the old canard that we lied about the intelligence is completely wrong as every single independent analysis of the evidence has shown," Blair said. "And to say that the fact that Saddam (deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein) massacred hundreds of thousands of his citizens is irrelevant to the morality of removing him is bizarre."

However, Blair said that "in a healthy democracy people can agree to disagree."

In Britain, a two-year long inquiry examining the buildup to the Iraq war and its conduct is yet to publish its final report. The panel took evidence from political leaders including Blair, military chiefs and intelligence officers. Two previous British studies into aspects of the war cleared Blair's government of wrongdoing.

The Iraq war was bitterly divisive in the U.K. and saw large public demonstrations. However, Blair subsequently won a 2005 national election, though with a reduced majority.

[Jesusthe_Christ]

Don't just prosecute Bush and Blair. Hold the fire to the feet of the people that were driving them and are still driving. As everybody should know is that presidents are just puppets for major bank leaders and congress officials so there is always somebody to blame. What many of us fail to notice are the people behind the curtains. What are they doing? What are their motives? How long were tensions rising in Afghanistan before "Al Qaeda" decided to plant bombs in the world trade center (Blds. 1, 2, and 7) and fly planes into two of them? Do you really think a very select few people in a system so corrupt have your best interests in mind?

[cbsblogger]

Bush and Blair are not be too big to be prosecuted. It needs done if only to send a message to every other world leader who now believes he has a right to attack other countries at will (listening Netanyahu?).

Prosecution of Bush and Blair would open many cans of worms as most Americans are kept in the dark about the false intel, 9-11, and the real motive for the attack on Saddam and Iraq. Robert Zoellick stated in a speech that the Iraq War was fought for Israel's security. Google it.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

by SnoopKK September 3, 2012 11:21 AM EDT
What a load of nonsense!

Afghanistan was retaliation for 911 and nothing else!

-----------

BS.

And besides, Afghanistan never, as a country, attacked us. 19 of the 21 hijackers were Saudi, but GWB was too busy holding hands with and kissing (no kidding, Google it) the Saudi King.

[myopinionpal]

The Iraq war was started because Bush wanted to kill Saddam Hussein for trying to kill his father while he was in Kuwait. G W Bush used the US military as his personal hit squad.

[Well_You_Aint_Me]

True.

And that is all there is to this story.

[Greatnessgreg]

I must say your opinion is exactly correct pal!

[decotoguy]

Just as I said from the very begining of this"SHOCK and AWE", and "Fuzzy Math" type of action,
what Osama bin Ladan and his colleagues did on 9/11/01 was MINUSEULE in comparison to how George W.Bush and his administration react to it .
I said then "that America is reacting in CRIMINAL CONDUCT".
Most every-one disagreed with my statement, I pressed on with it just the same.
When one worships in the CATHEDRAL of WILLFULL SELF-DECEPTION,
is this a practice to draw deceit,or improve ignorance?

A Good Master is like a Magician, he hypnotiz his flock
of sheep and suggest that no harm will be done to them as they die.

[netjunkie1]

I cant speak for England except to say that the Downing street memos were incriminating.
As for Bush, I said it before he took office that he would bring down America. I was right.
He violated laws using the national security scare on our citizens who passed a fascist pieces of garbage called FISA2 and the PATRIOT Act of all things.
The fascist president bush conspired with corporations his granddaddy Prescott(Hitlers backer)conspired with to launch an attack on the FDR white house. This is why America has suffered...They moved jobs out.
Cheney exercised power not granted by the constitution, he even attempted to mislead congress by having the CIA publish false foreign intelligence reports they rely on for legislation. He shot a man in the face and walked away. Last time I checked, there is a required test and process to follow which was completely ignored and never addressed.
The Bush staff in general were all criminals with few exceptions that either stood their ground and were fired, or quit because of policy disagreement.
The president spoke to the American people and launched his war, even when the UN scoffed at the vain attempt to involve them.
The results, multiple millions homeless refugees, one hundred thousand dead, sick, injured and starving. The cities were left with no professionals of any kind and suffer blackouts.
He did this while giving the wealthy the lions share of tax breaks so they pay even less than ever during 2 wars as we were already involved in a more legitimate war in Afghanistan.
As a result our economy may not recover for decades. Just long enough to prepare for more war since China's economy is booming and have vowed to destroy US.

[netjunkie1]

Saddam was the threat to them all. Only prejudice Christians would think he would send his weapons of mass destruction to a hostile nation.
He used them himself. Would you risk that?
They never existed as the weapons inspectors have testified.

Remember what happened to Valerie Plame

[cbs_bull]

I agree with Archbishop Tutu here. It's a justice long overdue for thousands of American soldiers and countless innocent Iraqis killed in that unjustified war. And please include the evil Cheney.

[WitchBroom]

Tutu is right. Bush and Cheney authorized torture (war crimes) despite several international treaties and U.S. laws that forbid it. It's why their foreign travels are limited.

[nomosk]

The Hague is the appropriate place to try Bush and Blair. A hangman's noose would be an appropriate punishment.

[jonnyooh]

I think Karl Rove should be invited to this party.

[Ben37221]

Dick Chaney got to be tried as well. He is the real criminal. Cheney used Bush like a fish fryer uses his flipper spoon. That man(Chaney) have no conscience.