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Anthony Howard, Sunday Times
Philippe Sands, Observer
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Customer Reviews
This book is a fine example of instant political history, that covers a complex issue in a readable and yet informative style. The story starts by looking at Blair's approach to foreign policy when he was in Opposition. Then, as he took the reigns of power, Kampfner shows how Blair rebranded war as `humanitarian intervention' and sold the concept to the New Labour establishment, resulting in the bombing of Kosovo and the British military involvement in Sierra Leone.
The book really hits its stride when the neoconservatives occupy the Whitehouse - how Bush's `compassionate conservatism' marketing technique was rapidly dropped once in power, in favour of a strategy of United States primacy and pre-emptive action, especially after the attacks of 11th September, 2001. Up to this point, Tony Blair believed that on the world stage, he was personally influential and could diplomatically punch above his weight. Self-delusion or not, after 9/11, Blair was effectively sidelined and could act as no more than a pillion-passenger to Bush's foreign policy - a pillion-passenger being one who rides behind the driver of a motorbike but has no control over speed or direction. Kampfner's book then lays out the road to war against Iraq, the talking-up then playing-down of Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass Destruction (some of which could be active within 45 minutes of an order being given yadda yadda yadda), the internal debate within government, the conflict with the BBC and Andrew Gilligan, the Hutton enquiry, dodgy dossiers and all the rest of the unmitigated shambles.
John Kampfner's book provides an excellent snapshot of a government engaged in its most serious activity - committing military personnel to combat situations. The result does not inspire confidence: a tight cabal surrounds the power center, key decisions are then made and put to as little discussion at Cabinet level as possible; the public seems to be viewed as something close to the `enemy', to be won over with concerted propaganda campaigns involving highly dubious claims, claims which are then quietly discarded once they have served their purpose.
What makes this excellent book rise above the level of a cut-and-paste job from recent newspaper archives, is that the numerous interviews with key players give a distinct impression of how these events transpired from the perspective of those at the heart of government; how Tony Blair became increasingly frustrated by his lack of influence either with those in continental Europe or across the Atlantic. If the war against Iraq is to be Blair's lasting legacy, then John Kampfner's book provides us with the best, most detailed account so far, of the thought-processes that took this country into that most controversial of foreign affairs.
The overall view of how the Blair Government's foreign policy is carried out is fascinating - how the F.O. has gradually been sidelined by a more Presidential style system of advisors, mainly built up of various mates of Blair.
Some of the revelations in the book are astounding - Blair's link to Halliburton is fascinating and worrying, as are plenty of the Alastair Campbell moments.
You also get a very clear view of the Britain-US relationship. From the dramatic events of the 11th of September, the main players in the relationship are detailed. The Doves v Hawks situation in the US is considered, and their influence on Blair and Bush (who genuinely comes across as a man unfit to preside, not through any deliberate effort on Kampfner's part) is all interesting stuff.
The new edition brings the book right up to date, which can only create a more damning picture. Highly recommended.
What makes a left-wing leader with his focus almost exclusively on the domestic agenda venture into conflict probably more than any of his post-war predecessors, culminating in the most extensive war Brittain has fought since 1945.
The book paints an analytical portrait of the leader slowly transforming from a politician who thought he could do it all to one under deep pressure and slightly overwhelmed by the course actions were taking.
Kampfner sees Blair as having a clear mission embedded in a set of deep moral and religious beliefs. On top of that he sees him as a politician who believes in his own power, superior intellect and convictions and who is convinced that he "can put things right", displaying a "leave it to me" mentality, not only in his own country but also in his dealings with other world leaders.
He genuinely beliefs that he can bridge the differences between the US and Old Europe. That this is not the case as the whole episode around resolution 1441 in the UN Security councel shows, does not need further demonstration.
Blair is increasingly forced to make choices and not necessarliy always at his moment of choosing. The choice, almost by determination, is for the US with the well known results.
Blair always maintained that he favoured the course of action because " no future generation should ask us why we did not do something about it". There is no doubt that the Iraq regime was one of the vilest on earth and that ending it has made the world ( certainly Iraq) a better place. Whether this was the best way to do it, is a question for historians and will probably take decades to answer. Why Blair took the path he choose is, however, excellently described in this book.
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