David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Friday 10 April, 2009

Six years in Iraq: fragile, reversible but moving in right direction

9 April marked the sixth anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein. The attached article in the New Statesman sets out my reflections. Iraq's development matters to the whole of the Middle East.  Divisions about the wisdom of the war cannot be overcome. But there is far more shared analysis about the peace making - its contours and missteps and then its improvement. There is a chance of unity about the way forward.

Posted at 17:09 10 April 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[5]

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I'm old enough to believe in democracy, so I'll give this a try. Today, as I left the Royal Academy, I bumped into the demonstation about Sri Lanka. I feel hugely uninformed when it comes to commenting on the enormous bank of people who confronted me. But something tells me that these polite, dignified and organised people were taking to the streets for a cause I should be better aware of. This struck me as being a group of people who would enhance the British population, and who should be supported in their request for support. What I'm doing isn't much, but I'd like to think that this is what my father fought for. Please support these people in their effort to ensure that the country we once had the affrontery to colonise should be better governed.

Posted by Penny Wiles on April 11, 2009 at 10:36 PM BST #

Just wanted to know when Mr. Miliband visited India he said terrorists are operating because of unresolved Kashmir issues.... But I don't understand that which unresolved issue UK has with Pakistan that they are planning attacks on UK... few days back when UK arrested 12 suspects planning attacks on UK and 10 of them were Pakistani nationals... I would like comment from MR.Miliband on this one.... Thank you

Posted by Hemant on April 12, 2009 at 07:11 AM BST #

David, you are correct, the divisions over the wisdom of the war cannot be overcome. However, part of the peace process is bringing to a court of law those western politicians guilty of starting the war in the first place. Tony Blair lied to the British people and brought untold suffering to the Iraqi people. He needs to be held accountable. Would you not agree?

Posted by Paul Macdonald on April 13, 2009 at 01:06 PM BST #

Who decides who is a ruthless dictator and who is not ? I was astounded to see in the G20 meeting the butcher Meles Zenawi given the red carpet treatment. What more does it take ? He Stole election in 2005 and butchered more than 100 protesters ? Invaded neighbouring country Somalia and butchered more than 16000 of them ? Occupied neighbouring country’s land Eritrea contravening UN order to vacate it Despite being the biggest western aid recipient, has 12 million of his people starve ? What does he has to do, to be told off as other dictators ? Hipocrisy ?? compared to the treatment og Mugabe ? I just despair!! Please also read Jonathan Rugman channel 4 blog Ogaden ricochets back to ExCeL

Posted by David Stowell on April 14, 2009 at 11:41 AM BST #

Notice you call this the anniversity of the fall of Saddam Hussein, and not the anniversity of the illegal invasion of Iraq. There will always be divisions about the Iraq holocaust, but those divisions will cease to exist once the people who lied to the people are brought to justice.

Posted by stu on April 16, 2009 at 02:39 PM BST #

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