Georgetown University

explore.georgetown.edu

Home

Blogs

Exploring International Law

International Law in the Theater: The Trial of Tony Blair

International Law in the Theater: The Trial of Tony Blair

Jan-8-07 09:35 am

Monday's New York Times reports on a new play planned for the Tricycle Theatre in London:

[T]he Tricycle is assuming a still more activist role by instituting its own inquiry, this time into whether Prime Minister Tony Blair violated international law in 2003 when he joined Britain to the United States in invading Iraq without the explicit authorization of the United Nations Security Council.
The resulting play, scheduled to run from April 19 through May 19, has still to be put together, but it already has a flamboyant name: “Called to Account: The Indictment of Anthony Charles Lynton Blair for the Crime of Aggression Against Iraq — A Hearing.” The production’s timing is not accidental: May 2 will be the 10th anniversary of Mr. Blair’s election and, soon afterward, he is widely expected to leave 10 Downing Street. Speculation about his political afterlife has also inspired a satirical play, “The Trial of Tony Blair,” which will be broadcast on television in Britain on Jan. 15.

The Tricycle’s purpose, though, is not to put the British prime minister on trial. Rather, more like an American grand jury, “Called to Account” will examine whether there is sufficient evidence to indict him on the charge of aggression.

Interesting in and of itself, but perhaps more interesting is the way in which the play is being written:

Over the next month, behind closed doors, two leading British barristers — Philippe Sands for the prosecution and Julian Knowles for the defense — will cross-examine about 20 international experts who are well placed to argue the pros and cons of the case against the British prime minister.

(As it happens, these cross-examinations are taking place in the Matrix Chambers, a London law practice that includes Mr. Sands and Mr. Knowles — and also Cherie Booth, Mr. Blair’s lawyer wife — among its 55 members. Mr. Kent said that Ms. Booth was informed of the play on Friday, the same day they held the first hearing in the very building where she works.)

Between 20 and 30 hours of recordings will then be turned into a two-hour drama by Richard Norton-Taylor, a journalist at The Guardian who has put together other verbatim plays presented at the Tricycle. Only then will the names of the witnesses be disclosed.

And how will the play end? The Times reports:

“The present idea is that the audience will vote, but we’re not 100 percent certain we will go down that path,” said Mr. Kent, who will direct “Called to Account,” with 15 or so actors using the names and words of key witnesses. “We may ask people to vote twice, before and after the play.”

Phillippe Sands well-known to the international legal community as both a practitioner and scholar. He is the author of Lawless World: Making and Breaking of Global Rules. One would thus expect a very instructive-- even if controversial exploration of international law relating to the recourse to force.

Tags: use of force aggression

About the editor:

Anthony Clark Arend

Professor

Commentary and analysis at the intersection of international law and politics.

» Contact the editor

» Learn more about the M.A. in International Law and Government at Georgetown University.

Tags

9/11 Commission aggression Alien Tort Statute censorship CIA civil liberties civil rights civil war climate change compensation Congress contractors crimes against humanity customary international law cyber security democracy detainee detainees detainess development diplomatic immunity electronic surveillance enemy combatant enemy combatants enviromental law environmental law expropriation extradition foreign law game theory genocide global economy habeas corpus human right human rights humanitarian assistance intelligence International Court of Justice international courts International Criminal Court international criminal law international environmental law international finance international health international law international legal theory international trade just war doctrine law of the sea law of war laws of war military commission military commissions military law multilateral negotiations nationalization natural law North Korea nuclear nonproliferation nuclear proliferation nuclear weapons outer space peacekeeping piracy poverty preemption prisoner of war prisoners of war rendition rule of law self-executing separation of powers sovereign wealth fund sovereignty Supreme Court SWF terrorism torture treaties United Nations universal jurisdiction use of force war crimes

Tags

More