Guardian UK: Tony Blair 'should read more Dostoevsky'

Archbishop of Canterbury chides Tony Blair over Chilcot inquiry
More Dostoevsky please! Rowan Williams says ex-PM needs more soul-searching after evidence to Iraq war inquiry

Dan Milmo guardian.co.uk, Friday 5 February 2010


The archbishop of Canterbury has renewed his criticism of Tony Blair by urging the former prime minister to recognise his "absurdity" in the wake of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war — and suggesting he read more Dostoevsky.

Repeating a previous quip that Blair is "very strong on God, very weak on irony", Rowan Williams said the former prime minister had perhaps not done enough soul-searching.

Speaking at a lecture on the Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, Williams was asked by an audience member how he viewed Blair's appearance at the hearing last week in the context of his studies of the Crime and Punishment author.

Williams said: "I think Tony Blair is one of the most un-Dostoevskian characters in Britain."

He admitted earlier at the event hosted by St George's Church in central London that he loved Dostoevsky's characters because of their soul-searching and sharing of other people's burdens. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/feb/05/archbishop-canterbury-blair-iraq-dostoyevsky

Happy karma, Tony.

in front of the Hague.