300,000 people died as a result of Tony Blair's actions

The human toll of the Iraq war is extremely high, and the effects on the local communities perdure until today. Especially the two battles in the city of Fallujah that were carried out by the US and UK armies against Iraqi insurgents in 2004 were extremely deadly to the population. In addition to civilian deaths that were later declared to be collateral damage, these attacks also provoked large displacement of the locals to other parts of the country or beyond its borders. Another factor that amplifies this tendency is the rise in bombings and ground attacks carried out by the Coalition (Western countries taking part in the armed conflict). As a result, minorities and other vulnerable parts of society are put into great danger and had to leave their homes. According to data by the UNHCR, 2 million Iraqi refugees crossed the borders, and 1.9 million were internally displaced. Overall, the operations carried out by the British Army under the command of Tony Blair provoked widespread poverty, destruction and death rather than stabilising the situation in the country or defending democratic values as it was made to believe to the public. The humanitarian cost of the Iraq war instigated through the efforts of Tony Blair is extremely high. It is important to note that these consequences cannot be justified under International Law and have been widely criticised. This is reflected by the involvement of the International Court of Justice who is reinvestigating the “alleged war crimes committed by United Kingdom nationals in the context of the Iraq conflict and occupation from 2003 to 2008.” As the individuals that may be tried were under the command of Tony Blair at the moment when their actions were executed, we can say that he also needs to take responsibility for these crimes. Tony Blair could be considered as a war criminal according to this line of arguments.

[P1] Human cost and suffering delegitimise war.