The fallout from the DSM has been strangely muted here in Britain. For most people it really is a case of "yeah - we knew they lied to take us to war, but what can we do about it now?" Teflon Tony has acted as though it was all behind him and has been concentrating on making himself the big man of Europe.
But the foundations are shaking beneath Blair's feet.
From a letter to the editor in today's Guardian signed by families of 17 British soldiers who have died so George Bush could be a war president;
We now believe our prime minister, Tony Blair, misled the people of this country as to the true reasons for the war in Iraq.
The full letter over the fold.
Jonathan Freedland (
Yes, they did lie to us, June 22) is right to call for a full investigation into the lies we were told to take us to war. Our loved ones gave their lives in the service of this country. They all died in the Iraq war. When they went to that war they believed they were being sent to defend our country. They were told it was their duty to disarm the Saddam regime of its weapons of mass destruction. When enlisting, servicemen and women sign an oath of allegiance to her majesty's government. All they ask in return is that their government acts in an honourable, truthful and responsible manner, and only deploys troops into the theatre of war to risk their lives when absolutely necessary.
We now believe our prime minister, Tony Blair, misled the people of this country as to the true reasons for the war in Iraq. We believe there was no serious evidence for WMD. We also believe that the assurances given by the attorney general, Peter Goldsmith, as to the legality of the war are highly questionable. This is why we are calling for an independent public inquiry into the decision to go to war. We must restore accountability to public life. Our loved ones deserve justice and the people of this country deserve the truth.
Imagine how heartbreaking it must be to lose a loved one in war. To learn conclusively that they died to pander to the ego of a small minded tyrant must be horrible beyond words. For these families and the families of all those who have suffered or died as a result of this ridiculous war we must never relent in our pursuit of those culpable.