British Activists, Soldiers Criticize Donation From Blair Memoirs

British antiwar activists, as well as some soldiers and the families of Iraq and Afghanistan casualties, are criticizing former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s plan to donate profits from his memoirs to a charity for wounded veterans, the British daily the Independent reports.

Mr. Blair announced Monday that he will give proceeds from the book, due for release next month, and his approximately $7.5-million advance from Random House to the Royal British Legion for programs to rehabilitate wounded soldiers.

Critics dismissed the donation as a bid by Mr. Blair to assuage his guilt for leading the country into the publicly unpopular Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Frances Shine, whose son lost a leg in Iraq, called the gift an “insult,” and a soldier posting on a military Web forum suggested Mr. Blair give the money to help Iraqis wounded by British troops.