Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq
Downing Street said Mr Blair's views have been misrepresented
Tony Blair has publicly accepted that the violence in Iraq since the US-led
invasion in 2003 has been a disaster. The prime minister's remark came during
an interview with Sir David Frost on the new al-Jazeera English-language Arabic
TV channel. The Liberal Democrats have seized on his comment saying he has
finally accepted the enormity of his decision to go to war in Iraq. But
Downing Street has insisted that Mr Blair's views have been misrepresented.
Mr Blair made the remark when he was challenged by Sir David that the Western
intervention in Iraq had "so far been pretty much of a disaster". He replied:
"It has, but you see what I say to people is why is it difficult in Iraq?
"It's not difficult because of some accident in planning, it's difficult
because there's a deliberate strategy - al-Qaeda with Sunni insurgents on one
hand, Iranian-backed elements with Shia militias on the other - to create a
situation in which the will of the majority for peace is
displaced by the will of the minority for war." Disingenuous The remark
came after the Trade Minister Margaret Hodge was reported to have told a
meeting of Labour supporters that the Iraq war was Tony Blair's "big mistake"
in foreign affairs. Commenting on Mr Blair's interview Liberal Democrat
leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "At long last the enormity of the decision to
take military action against Iraq is being accepted by the Prime Minister.
"It could hardly be otherwise as the failure of strategy becomes so clear.
"If the Prime Minister accepts that it is a "disaster" then surely Parliament
and the British people who were given a flawed prospectus are entitled to an
apology." Downing Street insisted it was not Mr Blair's view that the
violence in Iraq had been a disaster. A spokeswoman said: "He was simply
acknowledging the question in a polite way before going on to explain his view.
"To portray it as some kind of admission is completely
disingenuous." Partnership Mr Blair was the first guest on the Frost Over
the World programme on al-Jazeera International, which launched on Wednesday
this week. In the interview he stressed the importance of progress in the
Middle East peace process in winning the "war on terror". He said it would
cut support for Muslim extremism and added the issue was the "most important"
thing for him before he leaves office. He also said Syria and Iran could play
a "constructive" role in the Middle East. "If you are prepared to be part of
the solution, there is a partnership available to you," Mr Blair said. "But
at the moment - and this is particularly so in respect of what Iran is doing in
supporting terrorism throughout the Middle East and acting in breach of its
nuclear weapons obligations - you are behaving in such a way that makes such a
partnership impossible." I think when you step down as prime
minister you step down
Tony Blair
He said it was completely absurd to suggest that talking to the countries
amounted to "appeasement". Mr Blair said securing progress in the Middle East
would have great "symbolic importance". "It would send a signal to the whole
of the world that this was not a battle between westerners or Christians and
Muslims, but it was a battle between all those who believe in tolerance, in
living together in harmony, in a non sectarian future against those who want to
divide us.'' And he repeated that UK troops would remain in Iraq "for as long
as the government needs us to stay". He was also asked if he would stay on as
foreign secretary if the job was offered to him by his likely successor Gordon
Brown. Mr Blair said: "I think when you step down as prime minister you step
down".
The Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
Groupe de communication Mulindwas
"avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
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