Battleground 356. Hero or Villain: Episode 4 - Tony Blair
Dec 24, 2025
Dive into the complicated legacy of Tony Blair, as two hosts debate if he was a hero or villain. They explore his controversial decisions from successful military interventions in Kosovo and Sierra Leone to the chaotic aftermath of the Iraq War. Discover how Blair’s alignment with the U.S. shaped his policies and the disastrous consequences that followed. With arguments weighing moral intentions against real-world outcomes, the discussion prompts you to consider: was Blair a noble champion or a reckless instigator?
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Leader Of 1990s Optimism
- Tony Blair embodied 1990s optimism and seemed the right leader for the post‑Cold War era.
- His centrist 'New Labour' image made him widely trusted early in his premiership.
Kosovo Intervention Recalled
- Roger Morehouse recounts NATO and British intervention in Kosovo as a tactical success.
- He describes it as moral leadership that exposed European weakness and protected Kosovars.
Sierra Leone: A Targeted Success
- Roger Morehouse describes the 2000s British deployment to Sierra Leone as a small, effective intervention.
- He calls it a 'rapier rather than a blunderbuss' that stabilised Freetown and helped evacuations.