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Tony Blair may have shown historic qualities of leadership during the Iraq crisis comparable with Bismarck in the 1860s ("Blood, iron and creative havoc", THES , July 25). But Blair would do well to remember the comment made by Bismarck: "Woe betide the statesman who in this age fails to seek a reason for war that remains valid after the war is over."

As the search for weapons of mass destruction goes on, it is unclear whether Bismarck, let alone history, would forgive Blair's justification for war in Iraq.

Stephen Thompson
Cambridge