Blair defends Bush on decision to go to war
Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair on Friday defended US President George W. Bush's "good faith" decision to oust Saddam Hussein, amid renewed controversy over the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
By Agencies |
NEW YORK: Britain's former prime minister Tony Blair on Friday defended US President George W. Bush's "good faith" decision to oust Saddam Hussein, amid renewed controversy over the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
When asked in an interview on NBC television if he thought Bush had deceived him on the US president's rationale for the invasion, Blair said: "No, I didn't," although he acknowledged that "it was a very controversial, difficult decision" to go to war.
"And my decision to stand with America was also very difficult," he added. "But I honestly worked very closely with President Bush all the way through that period of time. People can agree or disagree with the decision. I have no doubt it was taken in good faith," he said of Bush's decision to go to war.
The White House scrambled this week to refute accusations by former spokesman Scott McClellan, who in an explosive new memoir accused the Bush administration of mounting a "propaganda" campaign and avoiding inconvenient truths about Iraq to sell an "unnecessary" war to the US public.
With Blair standing firm as Bush's top ally in wartime, critics have tarred him with the same brush and say he helped Bush rush to war.
"We believed at the time -- I still happen to believe -- that Saddam Hussein was a threat, that he needed to be dealt with," Blair said.
"Out in the region now where I spend a lot of my time, I find it hard to think that the region would be more secure or safer today if Saddam was still running about with his two sons."
Britain's ex-leader also blamed Iran and Al-Qaeda for fueling violence in the region, and warned that a no-retreat posture in the Middle East was needed to defeat extremists who "support a politics and culture that's kind of from the Middle Ages."
"The extremists associated with Al-Qaeda, the influence of Iran -- that's what's made it difficult in Iraq," Blair said.
"And if we retreat from those forces in Iraq, in Afghanistan or anywhere, then we will carry on running from them until we turn around and take them on and fight."
Blair now serves as a special envoy to the Middle East, and on Friday launched a foundation to "harness the moral leadership of people of faith," according to the organization's website.
When asked in an interview on NBC television if he thought Bush had deceived him on the US president's rationale for the invasion, Blair said: "No, I didn't," although he acknowledged that "it was a very controversial, difficult decision" to go to war.
"And my decision to stand with America was also very difficult," he added. "But I honestly worked very closely with President Bush all the way through that period of time. People can agree or disagree with the decision. I have no doubt it was taken in good faith," he said of Bush's decision to go to war.
The White House scrambled this week to refute accusations by former spokesman Scott McClellan, who in an explosive new memoir accused the Bush administration of mounting a "propaganda" campaign and avoiding inconvenient truths about Iraq to sell an "unnecessary" war to the US public.
With Blair standing firm as Bush's top ally in wartime, critics have tarred him with the same brush and say he helped Bush rush to war.
"We believed at the time -- I still happen to believe -- that Saddam Hussein was a threat, that he needed to be dealt with," Blair said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Out in the region now where I spend a lot of my time, I find it hard to think that the region would be more secure or safer today if Saddam was still running about with his two sons."
Britain's ex-leader also blamed Iran and Al-Qaeda for fueling violence in the region, and warned that a no-retreat posture in the Middle East was needed to defeat extremists who "support a politics and culture that's kind of from the Middle Ages."
"The extremists associated with Al-Qaeda, the influence of Iran -- that's what's made it difficult in Iraq," Blair said.
"And if we retreat from those forces in Iraq, in Afghanistan or anywhere, then we will carry on running from them until we turn around and take them on and fight."
ADVERTISEMENT
Blair now serves as a special envoy to the Middle East, and on Friday launched a foundation to "harness the moral leadership of people of faith," according to the organization's website.
ADVERTISEMENT
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
