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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq | Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair has publicly accepted that the violence in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003 has been a disaster. | 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 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. | 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. | 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". | 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? | 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." | "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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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." | "To portray it as some kind of admission is completely disingenuous." |
| Partnership | Partnership |
| Mr Blair was the first guest on the Frost Over the World programme on al-Jazeera International, which launched on Wednesday this week. | 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". | 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 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. | 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. | "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." | "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 | 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". | 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". | 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.'' | "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". | 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. | 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". | Mr Blair said: "I think when you step down as prime minister you step down". |