It is ironic that Bush and Blair, having waged their illegal war against Iraq against the express wishes of the other major countries in United Nations, should now need those same countries to help establish peace in Iraq.  Ironic, also, that those much-derided European chocolate soldiers should now be regarded as sturdy enough to provide relief for the mightiest nation on earth, now embarrassingly over-stretched.  And yet the double irony seems lost on Bush, who had no compunction in telling the UN to do its duty.

In fact, ironies abound.  The nation with the biggest military budget complains about violence from others; the nation with the most weapons of mass destruction invades another country on unsubstantiated fears of WMD; the nation which executes criminals, regardless of age or mental health, lectures others on human rights abuses; the nation which preserves the rights of common citizens to carry guns cannot protect citizens without guns.  The United States of America, by any standard, is living by the sword.

There is a point, however, when ironies turn into cynicism.  There is general condemnation of the aggressive, unprovoked use of weapons, but there is general acceptance of some requirement for self-defence.  And so although much of the violence in the world stems from a proliferation of weapons of all kinds it is difficult to attack the arms industry.  But the arms industry can justifiably be attacked for putting economic self-benefit ahead of human suffering.  Whilst there might be a case for making sufficient weapons for self-defence can there be any justification for making weapons for export?

This week in the UK the international arms trade fair opens for business.  Not surprisingly, the biggest exporter in the world is the USA.  The United Kingdom is the second biggest.  The world’s biggest importer is China, with her dubious human rights record; her callous use of violence to quell disturbances from Beijing to her borders; her invasion and occupation of Tibet.  No, this is not ironic; this is a cynical exploitation of an economic goal regardless of consequences.

Mr Blair wants the war in Iraq to be judged by history.  No doubt history will also judge us by the progress we make towards the values we hold dear: love and compassion; fairness for all beings; reduction of poverty and suffering; education.  It is too much to hope that the swords will be made into ploughshares, but history will surely find us wanting unless we start the process for a reduction in arms manufacture.  Loss of jobs is no excuse; otherwise we would still make thumbscrews and employ torturers in the Tower of London.

The world was rightly shocked by the insane attacks of September 11.   Civilised nations have rightly condemned terrorism.  But if Mr Bush really is in touch with his God he will know what happens to those who live by the sword.