28 March, 2024

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George Bush And Tony Blair Should Face Trial Over Iraq War, Says Desmond Tutu

By Toby Helm –

Anti-apartheid hero attacks former prime minister over ‘double standards on war crimes’

Bush and Blair | Photograph: Luke Frazza/EPA

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for Tony Blair and George Bush to be hauled before the international criminal court in The Hague and delivered a damning critique of the physical and moral devastation caused by the Iraqwar.

Tutu, a Nobel peace prizewinner and hero of the anti-apartheid movement, accuses the former British and US leaders of lying about weapons of mass destruction and says the invasion left the world more destabilised and divided “than any other conflict in history”.

Writing in the Observer, Tutu also suggests the controversial US and UK-led action to oust Saddam Hussein in 2003 created the backdrop for the civil war in Syria and a possible wider Middle East conflict involving Iran.

To read it in the Guardian click here

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    Both George Bush and Tony Blair were mere pawns in the hands of the American Jews responsible for the chaos all over the world today. They should be tried for War Crimes. Why are the great Sri Lankan Patriots silent? MR should have seconded Desmond Tutu on this proposal.

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      There is nothing to second in Tutu proposal. MR has spoken against the west and the Israelis injustice to the palastineans for years.Tutu has woken up only now years after everyone knew what happened in Iraq, probaly to make some excuse to the creator whom he is due to meet soon.
      It is not only the American Jews but American christian/catholic evengelical churches all together,thats why he is silent on them.

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        NAK is it because that MR has been speaking of Palastine for years that he signed up a Bilateral Trade Agreement with Israel?

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          gamini

          Israel trained Sri Lankan forces, LTTE and Indian commandos all at the same time. Sri Lanka was a lucrative market for arms, UAVs, etc. Israel was happy to supply what the west refused to supply.

          MR should be sending his armed forces to liberate Palestinians just as he did to rescue Tamils during and after the war.

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    The anti-US/West lobby world-over and particularly those in Sri Lanka, who have been talking of this, now have an ideal opportunity with Father Tutu taking the lead to support him and see that George Bush and Tony Blair are put on trial. But the question is will they do so as they would fear that such an action could boomerang on them as there are similar accusations on them too.

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      The big difference however is that in Bush/Blair case the crimes have been proven beyond any doubt and also admitted by them. Only sentencing needs to be done, where as in Sri Lanka’s case there are still only allegations and accusations.

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        NAK correction, here too there is not much investigation is needed as all the video evidence of filming by our own Forces is available for the conviction without doubt and only sentencing is further needed.

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          To say it in simple language, it is just ‘you scratch my back and I scratch yours’. Those in the ‘big power’ countries only just do lip service of actions against those in ‘small countries’ responsible for such crimes and in turn those in ‘small countries’ too do the same.

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    Welcome Father TUTu.
    I really appreciate you moral guts. You are exmplerary character our Mahnayaks of Budiihist Sanga.
    Do these guys have guts to avoide the white van abductors, killers of human being just being political opponnent.

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      It is not fair to generalise and accuse the Mahanayakes, because they too are at the mercy of the corrupt, communal and violent political culture that is ruling the country. Remember not so long ago when the Mahanayake’s protested on some issues they were threatened. It is failure of the people to realise the true situation and take remedial action.

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        Lanka Muslim, who made the Positions of Mahanayakes subservient to the Head of State to be threatened in the manner they have been? What do you mean it is not fair to generalise and accuse the Mahanayakes? These Bu….s are a disgrace to the Positions of the Sangha, after playing ball with MR, now have to shut their gabs. You also would have seen how these respectable Buddhist Monks got their bottom parts squeezed in the Parliament and was hospitalised. I believe the time has come to thrash every yellow robe seen in public and chase them to the temples. If one takes to robes, there is no further necessity to be out of a Temple, other than a trip to a Hospital, to a funeral house or for an alms giving. One becomes a Buddhist Priest renouncing everything in life. If any have not renounced, then they must leave the robes. I am no respector of people and positions unless they earn it by living exemplary lives. This type of Sangha has been the curse of this Nation, doing every thing else except living a renounced life.

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          Most Reverend Archbishop Tutu,

          How have you been? I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the initiative to throw the two horrible twins Bush and Blair behind bars. Appreciate it! You know, I had an awesome dream that showed my favorite uncle Abdullah (yes, the king sitting on top of the world’s richest oil reserve) throwing a couple of good, solid effective punches at their ugly faces which sent them reeling. What a pleasant dream! During the time of the war all my other uncles ruling the Middle East were busy manufacturing reasons to justify all the bloodshed, killings and massacres that were taking place right under their nose. Today, some of these guys have been killed, some kicked out and others have fled. Great!

          Most Reverend, I would like to remind you that there are more scoundrels who are involved and have blood of the innocent still crying from their hands. Remember, that Colin Powell guy? The shameless fellow sat in the UN Security Council displaying his urine and stool samples on a big wide screen and telling us stories about Saddam’s Mushroom cultivation which could turn into a massive cloud in a jiffy. And half the world like fools fell for his story hook, line and sinker! Then we have that total car-crash-face Condalisa Fried Rice. She started behaving as if the whole world was a rice cooker about to explode! And don’t forget the master mind behind all these set-you-free-invasions. Serial killer Dick Cheney. Politeness and common decency prevents me from using the term “Head” after his confounded name Dick! The list goes on and on but I just can’t afford to waste my time and energy remembering these guys. But the memories of the victims remain unchanged.

          Sir, I have a back-up Plan B just in case the ICC guys acquit the two horrible twins of all charges. What a nightmare! I suggest, that we catch hold of the two fellows and send them to Sri Lanka. Our contact in Sri lanka will organize a White Van to pick the two fellows from the Airport. White Van? You couldn’t think of any other color or what? Well, Sir, it’s a long story and I don’t want to go into its history and background right now. Suffice it to say that we have this guy who runs a White van cab service in Colombo. He is en experiment-gone-terribly-wrong who is obsessed with white girls oops vans (Sorry about the printing mistake). Today, he has ensured that all Sri lankans are obsessed with white vans so much so that when we see a white van waiting to give us a joyride we go psycho and run like mad! Confusing? Don’t like idea of white vanning? Forget it!

          Alternatively, what we could do is; bring the two fellows to Colombo and offer them a lethal welcome drink! Sorry, we can’t afford to buy lethal injections. And our Mr.Hangman has given up on this world and traveled to Mars in search of better employment prospects. Lucky fellow! You see, lately in Colombo our sewage water has been having regular one-to-one meetings with ground (drinking) water. What started out has an innocent friendship has grown into a serious love affair. Our jokers sitting in the parliament are wrestling to separate the two. This sewage water mixed with ground water Faluda drink will put these two criminals to sleep forever! You may want to wake them up when you get there. Are you gone nuts or something?

          Well,Excellency, if you want to ridicule and scoff at my plans I have no hard feelings about that. Please do let me know about your dreams because obviously I cannot dream for you, and how feasible your plans are. I would like to thank your for your time.

          I am, Yours respectfully,

          Desperado.

          No.666 Gota Road
          Basilpura
          Mahinda Lanka

          Mobile: Please dial country code, city code and my house number.

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          Gamini, sorry man, these post guys have delivered the letter to the wrong address. Sorry about that.

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          Asif no wonder, the mail not reaching the receipent relying on a Postal Service as old as the Bibilical times, while the rest of the World have moved with times, except you folks still hanging on to old methods and deeds. Today every one else use e-mail and DHL. So Change man, change!

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    Gamin, thanks man for forwarding the letter by DHL. Archbishop rang Desperado and gave him an earful! Serves him right!

    Man, this world as far as science and technology is concerned, yes it is advancing and progressing. But human beings are retrogressing at an alarming rate. All over the world people are drowning in a sea of moral bankruptcy. Mankind is a total failure that has lost its goal and direction. The most advanced country in the world boasts of the largest prison population. Seriously, look around you. In every direction it’s the fire of hell that is burning. Gone are the days when this country of ours was known as the “Land of Smiles”! Today, it is known as the “Land of Frowns”! We Sri Lankans have forgotten to smile and not only forgotten, forgot that we forgot!

    You walk down in the street and accidentally knock somebody; the guy will want to punch your face. If the incident caused him some humiliation or embarrassment then he’ll make sure to come to your place with some petty thugs and physically assault you. The qualities and attributes of a compassionate or a selfless person are no longer with us. They have left us never to return because we don’t want to accommodate them anymore. It’s all about “Me” “My” and “I” and the rest can go to hell. Sense of humor has become old fashioned. Our hearts and minds are in a complete mess wandering in an abysmal gloom. We have become unfriendly, arrogant, selfish, treacherous, rigid and above all we have turned into a bunch of merciless creatures. We have become materialistic like never before. Accumulating and amassing more and more and in the end take nothing! We have adopted a Do Not Trust Anybody attitude because there’s nobody to turn to. Hell is more closer than heaven. This is Sri lanka without the sugar coating.

    Man, we are wicked and that’s the reason why we have thugs ruling over us. They say, if you want to know how corrupt a nation is then just look at its leader. You say that Ranil is the only honest guy capable of breaking all the shackles and chains put around this country and setting her free. Well, how do you expect an honest guy to rule over a corrupt people? We need to take a serious look at ourselves first and make a change which we need so badly. Until and unless we bring some change in our life, man, don’t expect miracles to happen. We need to do our part first. We need to bring that smile back on our faces and let love, mercy and kindness prevail not only in our hearts and minds but also in our homes and neighborhoods. Forget the rulers! Let us be united as one big family. And my humble appeal to all my fellow Sri lankans, let us learn to smile again, believe me, it will do wonders and miracles!!

    “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
    ― Mahatma Gandhi

    “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
    ― Leo Tolstoy

    Sorry to digress from the topic under discussion….

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