A dangerous diversion
From Mr Ian Wylie Sir: By comparing Tony Blair with his distinguished predecessors, Paul Johnson (And another thing, 22 February) exhibits a confusion of thought about the national interest that is becoming dangerously commonplace. His predecessors recognised the danger to our interests — position, even survival — presented by France in the 18th century, then by Bonaparte in the early 19th. never mind Hitler and Stalin in the 20th. Their greatness stems from defeating these threats, sometimes against seemingly insuperable odds.
But their greatness is diminished by comparing Blair's position with theirs. By no stretch of the imagination does Saddam Hussein present a similar level of threat; nor will he ever be able to. The real threat is al-Qa'eda, and Blair's actions are not only recruiting for their cause, but have focused their attention on this nation in particular. No intelligence evidence links Iraq and al-Qa'eda — the coming war is little more than a dangerous diversion.
Blair's illustrious predecessors would hardly thank him for so imperilling this nation.
Ian Wylie
St Tudy, Cornwall
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