Russia's war on Ukraine: For many countries, the Iraq War is a lasting reminder of western hypocrisy – Kenny MacAskill

The 20th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war recently passed but the ramifications of it continue to rumble on.

I was minded of it by a friend who had placed flowers at Robin Cook’s grave. The former Foreign Secretary was courageous to both resign and speak out so vocally. That so many others in New Labour stayed silent, yet now seem to simply want to expunge it from their CV, is shameful.

That war has been catastrophic, not just for Iraq and all those killed or wounded by the conflict, but for our world where terrorism and insecurity has morphed. It’s also changed perceptions of the West within the developed world. We see things through a western lens and especially a UK/US eye but the world’s a different place when seen from the perspective of the Global South.

It’s even impacting on the Ukraine War. The rejoicing at an International Criminal Court warrant for Vladimir Putin ring hollow to many developing nations. After all, Russia no more accepts that court’s jurisdiction than does the USA. Western condemnation of the mercenary Wagner Group seems to forget that they are simply modelled on Blackwater and others who came to fame and made great profits in war-torn Iraq.

A statue of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is toppled at al-Fardous Square in Baghdad, Iraq, in April 2003 (Picture: Wathiq Khuzaie/Getty Images)

But it’s the wider hypocrisy of seeking to portray yourself as the upholders of peace, truth and justice. There’s no justification for Putin’s actions but the developing world equally laughs at western hypocrisy. That was shown in reports of a recent meeting in India of developing nations. The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, was laughed at when he suggested that Ukraine had launched an attack on them. But equally he received loud applause for condemning the Iraq invasion.

That’s why, when the UN held a vote to condemn the war and demand Russia’s removal from Ukraine, 32 nations abstained. That’s way beyond Iran and North Korea or other pariah states and they can’t all be viewed as Russian clients.

It’s because the West is viewed as hypocritical and in no position to judge or condemn others. That won’t change until we apologise and seek to atone for what was just plain wrong. Those who were complicit need to be held to account.

Kenny MacAskill is Alba Party MP for East Lothian