WTF? Blair given ‘Liberty Medal 2010′ & 100k cash


by Sunny Hundal    
5:40 pm - June 30th 2010

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Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been named the recipient of the 2010 Liberty Medal.

Constitution Center CEO David Eisner said Wednesday that the medal will be presented to Blair in Philadelphia on Sept. 13 by former President Bill Clinton.

The National Constitution Center gives the annual award to individuals or organizations whose actions strive to bring liberty to people around the world.

The medal was first given in 1989 and comes with a $100,000 cash prize. Previous winners have included U2 frontman Bono, former South African President Nelson Mandela and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

..by the Associated Press

Only one thought springs to me: WTF?

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Quiet Riot Girl

OH GREAT! He really deserves that. I think he is a marvellous ambassador and champion of the liberty of people throughout the world, with particular good work he has done for children in Iraq and Afghanistan.

(is that how you do sarcasm on Libcon?)

My hatred of Blair is now complete. One of us can die now.

2. LizzieG

@1

Why not quit the sarcasm? The people of Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan and, yes, perhaps most of all,…. Iraq… have a lot to thank him for. And a heck of a lot of them do thank him.

3. Watchman

Interesting list of recipients that medal has. I now know the answer to the popular pub quiz question of what do Hamad Karzai, King Hussein of Jordan and Steven Spielberg have in common, anyway.

Recipients: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Liberty_Medal

Doesn’t explain Tony Blair getting it now, but as Mikael Gorbachev only attained the honour two years ago, perhaps it is granted to whoever is available?

4. Dave Weeden

I really can’t think of two fellows more deserving of $100K than Tony Blair and Bono. This prize is a splendid idea, though I’m sure the nay-sayers will cavil and say that money could be spent elsewhere, like on poor kids hurt by US-UK friendly bombings.

Keep smiling, Tony!

5. pagar

The National Constitution Center gives the annual award to individuals or organizations whose actions strive to bring liberty to people around the world.

Yep. It’s confirmed.

We are living in a parallel universe.

Left=Right

Truth=Lies

Freedom=Slavery

6. Ian

> Previous winners have included U2 frontman Bono

I think you’ve been trolled, Liberal Conspiracy. This is obviously a joke. Lighten up!

7. pagar

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tony-blair-to-receive-2010-liberty-medal-at-the-national-constitution-center-97472244.html

Sorry, Ian.

Stranger than fiction………..

8. mathew archer

go back 30 years and Henry Kissinger received the Nobel Peace Prize, after bombing Cambodia illegally…..politics really is stranger than any fiction can be, and giving an award like this to TB simply demonstrates yet again how completely insaine US policy is, both domestic and internal…..TB came into power to make money for himself and his family, and he’s done that both as PM of the UK and afterwards.

9. ukliberty

Daily Record:

In a letter to Blair on January 30, 2003, Lord Goldsmith said that “in the absence of a further decision of the security council”, resolution 1441 did not give the go-ahead for an invasion.

Two weeks after his first letter, Goldsmith wrote to Blair again, repeating his view that a second UN resolution was needed.

Blair’s irritation at Goldsmith’s advice is clear from the documents. He scribbled on one of the notes: “I just do not understand this.”

Sir Ken MacDonald QC, former DPP:

I had only been in office a few weeks when, in early 2004, the then Prime Minister [Tony Blair] and the then Home Secretary [David Blunkett] suggested publicly, and on the same day, that in serious crime cases the criminal standard of proof should be lowered.

When assurances were being sought from Egypt that deportees “shall receive no ill treatment whilst in detention” and that “they shall receive a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial judiciary”, Tony Blair wrote, “This is a bit much. Why do we need all these things?”

What a worthy winner of a Liberty Medal.

10. Bob B

This is from an article in The Times by Sir Kenneth Macdonald QC, previously DPP 2003-2008 and visiting prof at the LSE. In his law practice, Sir Kenneth Macdonald QC works out of Matrix Chambers, as does Cherie (Booth) Blair QC and Professor Philippe Sands QC, author of: Lawless World – Making and Breaking Global Rules (Penguin, 2006)

“The degree of deceit involved in our decision to go to war on Iraq becomes steadily clearer. This was a foreign policy disgrace of epic proportions and playing footsie on Sunday morning television does nothing to repair the damage. It is now very difficult to avoid the conclusion that Tony Blair engaged in an alarming subterfuge with his partner George Bush and went on to mislead and cajole the British people into a deadly war they had made perfectly clear they didn’t want, and on a basis that it’s increasingly hard to believe even he found truly credible.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article6955241.ece

11. Sagaris

Ha ha, this has got to be a joke.

12. Crimson Glory

I cant believe looking at that picture, is it for real, Bastard, sorry for language but am sure all thinks the same way!!

regards

let life lead to disaster – its the way its going

J

13. Bob B

From a discussion on the BBC Today programme on Saturday, I learned of a new scholarly book coming out on the legality of the Iraq war:

Professor Marc Weller: Iraq and the Use of Force in International Law (OUP, September 2010)

In looking up the details on the amazon website, I learned that Dr Brian Jones, who was head of the branch in the Defence Intelligence Service charged with assessing incoming intelligence on WMD at the time of the government’s infamous dossier on Iraq’s WMD published on 24 September 2002, is also bringing out a book this month:

Failing Intelligence: How Blair Led Us Into War In Iraq (Dialogue, July 2010)


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Chris Atkins

    Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fucking money.

  2. antonvowl

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  3. Elly

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  4. Teresa

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  5. Richard Simcox

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  6. Chris

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  7. jacqui thompson

    RT @libcon WTF? Tony Blair awarded ‘Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/cYpkbX

  8. Nick00031

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fu …

  9. Dick Mandrake

    @cuntoftheday If you need an excuse to award Blair today's CotD yet again: http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  10. nobby-Lobby

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fu …

  11. sunny hundal

    What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  12. Justin McKeating

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  13. Old Holborn

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  14. Debi Simpson

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fu …

  15. Derek Bryant

    RT @sunny_hundal What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  16. Chris D'Souza

    FFS, Isn't that his job anyway? >> RT @sunny_hundal: What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  17. Les Crompton

    RT @libcon WTF? Tony Blair awarded ‘Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/cYpkbX Beyond mega pisstake.

  18. Mind In Flux

    Blair given ‘Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Lib. Conspiracy: http://bit.ly/9M3paU >> We are all sane, its the rest of them that are mad.

  19. blindasabat

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fu …

  20. Rob Jackson

    RT: @LukeBozier: NI peace, Sierra Leone, Kosovo…RT @sunny_hundal What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  21. Paul Sandars

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  22. Not an Odalisque

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  23. james

    Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW > I have never been so angry in my fucking entire life!

  24. Luke Richards

    RT @james_monk: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW > I have never been so angry in my fucking entire life!

  25. james

    Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW < how is this possible? The cunt needs fucking waterboarding!

  26. Tom Balson

    RT @sunny_hundal: What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  27. Jim Smith

    RT @james_monk: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW > I have never been so angry in my fucking entire life!

  28. Sally Bercow

    RT @libcon WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW < and http://twitpic.com/1ek6pr

  29. Barrow Boy

    "@james_monk: this has got to be a joke right?? http://bit.ly/aMa5bW < how is this possible? The cunt needs fucking waterboarding!"

  30. MattHanley

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  31. Anthea

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fucking money.

  32. Kelly-Marie Blundell

    RT @james_monk: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW > I have never been so angry in my fucking entire life!

  33. Julia Smith

    What next? Pete Doherty to be awarded Sobriety Medal and £50 in scrunched up fivers??? RT @chickyog & @libcon http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  34. Darren Bridgman

    RT @sunny_hundal: What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW <indeed it is

  35. ana

    RT @sunny_hundal What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW » It's infuriating and unfathomable!

  36. Leske Slater

    ? @OldHoborn: RT @sunny_hundal: What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  37. weissnicht

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fucking money.

  38. Chica Lolita

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  39. Barrow Boy

    "@james_monk: http://bit.ly/aMa5bW < how is this possible? The cunt needs fucking waterboarding!" > What a fucking joke!

  40. david bailey

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  41. B Latif

    Alleged #WarCriminal Tony Blair gets #money
    RT @libcon: #WTF? Tony #Blair awarded '#Liberty #Medal 2010' & 100k #cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  42. Matt Dodd

    RT @sunny_hundal: What a joke: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  43. Alex

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fu …

  44. Insult to injury | Prog Gold

    [...] If this is a joke, it’s a sick one: [...]

  45. Sarah-Jane Quick

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW <– I despair! And I used to vote for him! #bliar

  46. Fiona

    RT @ayodhya: RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW <– I despair! And I used to vote for him! #bliar

  47. Phil Rose

    RT @libcon: WTF? Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW

  48. Tracy Morgan

    RT @caebrwyn: RT @libcon WTF? Tony Blair awarded ‘Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/cYpkbX

  49. Finance-For-Life

    WTF? Blair given 'Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/auZRHT

  50. Romantic Toyz

    WTF? Blair given 'Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy http://bit.ly/bzJOF8

  51. Kaz Saringer

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  52. Ben Murdock Jackson

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  53. Gato Preto

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fucking money.

  54. Whumba

    RT @atkinsc99: Beyond Satire pt 74: Tony Blair awarded 'Liberty Medal 2010' & 100k cash http://bit.ly/aMa5bW Like he really needs the fucking money.

  55. Honey swinton

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  56. Eddie Wemple

    WTF? Blair given 'Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy: Pete Doherty to be awarded Sobriety Medal … http://bit.ly/bDGuir

  57. James Channing

    WTF? Blair given 'Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy: Pete Doherty to be awarded Sobriety Medal … http://bit.ly/bDGuir

  58. Kitty Hawke

    WTF? Blair given 'Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy: Pete Doherty to be awarded Sobriety Medal … http://bit.ly/bDGuir

  59. Danny Laurie

    WTF? Blair given 'Liberty Medal 2010? & 100k cash | Liberal Conspiracy: Pete Doherty to be awarded Sobriety Medal … http://bit.ly/bDGuir

  60. Josephine Grahl

    Ha ha. Everyone has the same reaction: http://liberalconspiracy.org/blog/2010/06/30/wtf-tony-blair-awarded-liberty-medal-2010-100k-cash/





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