18 Aug 2010 00:17:09
Soon it will be publish a book called "A Journey", it will be the first personal account of Tony Blair's company, critics say that it will become a bestseller.According to reports, the former premier has already received a 4.6-million-pound (5.6-million-euro, 7.2-million-dollar) advance for the book which should generate an even bigger sum.
"Tony Blair decided on leaving office that he would donate the proceeds of his memoirs to a charity for the armed forces as a way of marking the enormous sacrifice they make for the security of our people and the world," he said.
"The Royal British Legion is just such a cause.
"In making this decision, Tony Blair recognises the courage and sacrifice the armed forces demonstrate day in, day out.
"As prime minister he witnessed that for himself in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. This is his way of honouring their courage and sacrifice."
Royal British Legion director general Chris Simpkins said Blair's donation was "very generous" and it was "much appreciated and will help us to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of hundreds of injured personnel".
Anti-war campaigners said the money was welcome if it helped injured soldiers, but warned it did not absolve Blair of responsibility for the conflicts he led Britain into.
"The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in the pointless death of hundreds of British soldiers and hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians," said a spokesman for Stop The War Coalition.
"No amount of money will wash their blood from his hands."
Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004, was similarly ambivalent, saying the donation was a boost for veterans' services but was "too little, too late" for the soldiers who died.
"Why couldn't he have put money into the forces when they needed it in Iraq when they had a lack of equipment and everything else?" she said.
"Tony Blair decided on leaving office that he would donate the proceeds of his memoirs to a charity for the armed forces as a way of marking the enormous sacrifice they make for the security of our people and the world," he said.
"The Royal British Legion is just such a cause.
"In making this decision, Tony Blair recognises the courage and sacrifice the armed forces demonstrate day in, day out.
"As prime minister he witnessed that for himself in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. This is his way of honouring their courage and sacrifice."
Royal British Legion director general Chris Simpkins said Blair's donation was "very generous" and it was "much appreciated and will help us to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of hundreds of injured personnel".
Anti-war campaigners said the money was welcome if it helped injured soldiers, but warned it did not absolve Blair of responsibility for the conflicts he led Britain into.
"The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in the pointless death of hundreds of British soldiers and hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians," said a spokesman for Stop The War Coalition.
"No amount of money will wash their blood from his hands."
Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed in Iraq in 2004, was similarly ambivalent, saying the donation was a boost for veterans' services but was "too little, too late" for the soldiers who died.
"Why couldn't he have put money into the forces when they needed it in Iraq when they had a lack of equipment and everything else?" she said.
