LETTERS TO TONY BLAIR:

Saddam Hussein's lawyer wrote these letters as part of a plan for the Iraqi leader to step down before war was declared — but Blair ignored them

• Will Heilpern

Between the years of 2003 and 2011, more than 461,000 people died as a result the Iraq war. In the aftermath of the second Gulf War, a power vacuum allowed the ISIS/Islamic State death cult to flourish.

What if this catastrophe could have been prevented?

Sarosh Zaiwalla, a quietly spoken Indian lawyer living in West Sussex, claims that he could have facilitated a deal between Hussein's government and the West through former UK prime minister Tony Blair, avoiding a huge loss of human life.

At the time, Zaiwalla was in a unique position to act as mediator between the two sides. He had represented Hussein's government in a legal case in 2001 and is also a personal friend of Blair. Zaiwalla was the future prime minister's boss for a short time in the 1980s.

Iraqi government representatives told Zaiwalla that they were prepared to do a deal with the US government, and that "everything was on the table" — including the resignation of Hussein.

Zaiwalla sent letters (below) to Blair explaining the potential for a peaceful solution, but the offers in them were declined.

With the long-awaited Chilcot report on British involvement in the conflict due to be released on July 6, we caught up with Zaiwalla.

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Zaiwalla believes it was his relationship with Blair, as well as his reputation for representing international underdogs, which led Hussein's government to reach out to him for legal advice.

"I believe that the Iraqi government knew that the war was coming and that they had no chance and they wanted to find a solution," Zaiwalla said. He added: "I believe even Saddam would have gone and that would have saved the Iraq war."

"They wanted to send a message that everything was open for discussion with the US through Britain," he said. "Saddam would have stepped down. Everything was on the table. They knew there was no hope. They were putting on a brave face." 

"Anything could happen. In the past, Idi Amin [the deposed dictator of Uganda] was sent to Saudi Arabia with a house and hareem. Something like that."

Zaiwalla met with Blair in spring 2002, when the prime minister was working with US president George W. Bush to decide on the best course of action in Iraq.

This is Zaiwalla's letter to Blair, written several months before Bush called for military action in September 2002:

In the letter, Zaiwalla explained his belief that the Iraqi side were looking to find an "amicable settlement."

Downing Street sent this letter to Zaiwalla in response:

Sarosh Zaiwalla

Zaiwalla was told that the Foreign office would respond to his letter. In turn, he was sent a long document justifying British involvement in the war in Iraq.

Nevertheless, Zaiwalla persisted, and sent another letter directly to Tony Blair:

Sarosh Zaiwalla

On this occasion, Zaiwalla send a more detailed letter.  In the letter, he said that "Iraq would be willing to compromise and agree to resumption of weapon inspections."

The London lawyer added that he had gained experience in "off the record" communication with foreign governments, during two trips with former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine to China.

Zaiwalla added: "All of us have a duty to achieve just objectives without shedding of lives wherever possible. I would be happy to facilitate a dialogue between Iraq and the West..."

Tony Blair's office responded, declining the offer:

Sarosh Zaiwalla

So why didn't Tony Blair listen?

"I think by that time Tony had already made a commitment to president Bush," Zaiwalla said. "Really it was a personal war between Saddam and president Bush."

So, was the war illegal?

He said that there is "no doubt" that Iraq was an "unlawful war."

I asked Zaiwalla if this made his friend Tony Blair a "war criminal."

Zaiwalla denied this. He said: "It’s a matter of opinion. I don't want to make any allegations."

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Zaiwalla has abandoned his childhood dream of becoming the prime minister of India.

"I will continue as I am," Zaiwalla said. "I believe in life that one has to have a clean heart in order to one’s best in an honest manner."

http://www.businessinsider.com/sarosh-zaiwalla-lawyer-saddam-hussein-iraq-tony-blair-2016-7?r=UK&IR=T