Victims and pawns of the war
- 1 Feb 06, 08:00 PM
The photo of Tony Blair meeting the man who would become the 100th soldier to die in the Iraq war adds personal poignancy to a grim milestone. Of course, it changes nothing. Not the tragedy for his family and friends. Not the tragedy for all those who lost someone who happens not to have been the 100th and happens not to have met the prime minister. Not the question of whether war was right or wrong.
But inevitably those opposed to the war or critical of Tony Blair will use it against him. Some are demanding to know how he deals with the victims of "his war" or are asking why his letters are typed and not hand written, or why he doesn't attend funerals or meet the bereaved families. Number 10 is reluctant to be drawn on any of this knowing all too well the dangers of being seen to parade the prime minister's emotions publicly.
I'm told that he does write to all. I understand that there is a policy of not phoning families or going to meet coffins or attend funerals since some families would not want it and inevitably if it was done for one some would argue it should be done for all. It's all just a reminder that the victims of this war also become pawns in the political battle about whether it should have been fought at all.
