Former British PM Tony Blair made headlines last week for a pretty unconvincing apology for mistakes made during the Iraq War. His remarks were followed by speculation about whether the upcoming publication of the Chilcot Report might have had something to do with it. But what about the other key players in the 2003 invasion and subsequent regime change? We take a look at what they are up to now, and here’s a surprise: they are not busy apologizing.
Pictures via Twitter and Youtube.
Condaleezza Rice
As President Bush’s National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, Rice pushed hard for the invasion of Iraq on the basis Saddam possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. “We don’t want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud”, she famously said.
These days she is living quite an enjoyable life. She's teahes political economy at Standford Graduate School of Business and told ESPN she gets busy in her downtime watching 14-15 college football games a week on TV. She even played herself in an episode of 30 Rock alongside Alec Baldwin.
Sir Richard Dearlove
As the head of MI6, Dearlove played a pivotal role in the UK’s participation in the war. A remark attributed to him in the infamous Downing Street Memo shows that he believed intelligence was being fixed around policy.
He has since been Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge. During this time he has written memoirs, which many anticipate will blow the lid off the “Dodgy Dossier." Set to be released after the Chilcot Report, the memoirs probably have Blair shaking in his brogues.
Rauf Rashid Abd al-Rahman
He was the judge who sentenced Saddam to death, etching his own face into the history books. But what has he been doing since then?
Rahman was reportedly killed by Daesh in 2014, at least according to some Western media outlets. The Kurdish government refuted the claims, stating that he was alive and well, living a normal life.
Dick Cheney
Cheney was US vice president from 2001 to 2009 and has been the focus of much criticism for his hefty role in the invasion.
He has since written a number of books, endorsed Mitt Romney for President in 2012 (and helped raise over $4 million for his campaign), and supported same-sex marriage by trying to encourage Maryland State Legislators to vote to legalize it in 2012.
