David Miliband, the former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, has publicly expressed his profound regret for backing the Iraq invasion, considering it to be one
of the most significant regrets of his political career.
Miliband acknowledged that the 2003 war and its aftermath caused substantial harm to the Western world's credibility in upholding fundamental values of international order and justice, as reported by The Guardian.
During a Hay Festival event in Wales, Miliband admitted, "I voted for the war. I supported the government's position. There's no question in my mind about how serious a mistake that was."
He further described the war as a "strategic mistake" due to the adverse global implications it brought about. Miliband acknowledged that the war did not excuse subsequent events in Ukraine but acknowledged the possibility of others perceiving the West as hypocritical in its anti-Russia stance. He stated, "I think it's a very, very serious point."
Miliband expressed deep concern about the divisions he witnessed in the world. He noted that while Ukraine had united the West, it had also divided it and other parts of the globe.
Highlighting the current situation regarding Russia and Ukraine, Miliband voiced his disappointment in the failure of countries representing over half of the world's population to support the condemnation of Russia. Although only five countries have supported Russia at the UN, Miliband pointed out that approximately 40 to 50 countries have refused to join any condemnation. Their refusal stems not from supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but rather from their perception of Western hypocrisy and weakness in addressing global challenges over the past three decades.
Miliband, who currently serves as the chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, encouraged the audience to read speeches by Kenyan President William Ruto, who contrasts the effort in Ukraine with efforts to address conflicts in other parts of the world. Miliband stressed the importance of considering the role of the West, including the UK, in global politics, particularly when addressing issues like poverty, crimes against humanity, and conflicts in various regions worldwide. Photo by World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, Wikimedia commons.