HEARTLAND PROGRESSIVE: Corporate Sponsors of Tony Blair Event Disgrace Themselves

I requested Judson University, an evangelical Christian university in Elgin, IL, rescind its invitation to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to be keynote speaker at their April 12 World Leader Forum event, "Faith, Power and the Post Modern World". The request was based on Blair's standing as a war criminal for conspiring with President George W. Bush to launch an unprovoked, unnecessary, illegal and therefore criminal war against Iraq ten years ago next week. Neither Blair nor Bush have been convicted much less indicted, nor even investigated by their home countries for war crimes because neither England nor the United States applies international law prohibiting criminal wars against its own leaders. But both Blair and Bush must be careful regarding what countries they visit since many countries would arrest them in a Baghdad minute if they touch down on their soil because they take the directives of the Nuremburg War Crimes Commission seriously.

But its not only evangelical Christian school Judson University that needs a morality check. The 14 corporate and foundation sponsors paying the probable huge speaking fee of a man who bears much responsibility for the millions of dead, injured and homeless in his mindless and senseless war, also need to recalibrate their moral compass. For the record, here is the dis-honor roll of war criminal enablers who shamefully boast of being PLATINUM, GOLD or measly old SILVER status supporters of a man who should be in a criminal dock, not a university podium preaching about faith and power before an adoring audience.

PLATINUM