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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq | Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has publicly agreed with the opinion that the violence in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has been a disaster. | Tony Blair has publicly agreed with the opinion that the violence in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has been a disaster. |
| The UK prime minister was responding to a question by Sir David Frost in an interview on the new al-Jazeera English-language Arabic TV channel. | The UK prime minister was responding to a question by Sir David Frost in an interview on the new al-Jazeera English-language Arabic TV channel. |
| The Liberal Democrats have seized on his agreement, saying Mr Blair has finally accepted the enormity of his decision to go to war in Iraq. | The Liberal Democrats have seized on his agreement, saying Mr Blair 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. |
| A spokesman said Mr Blair often agreed with interviewers when he responded to their questions. | A spokesman said Mr Blair often agreed with interviewers when he responded to their questions. |
| Mr Blair was challenged by Sir David over the violence in Iraq, saying that the Western intervention there had "so far been pretty much of a disaster". | Mr Blair was challenged by Sir David over the violence in Iraq, saying that the Western intervention there had "so far been pretty much of a disaster". |
| The prime minister replied: "It has, but you see what I say to people is why is it difficult in Iraq? | The prime minister 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 interview comes as Chancellor Gordon Brown met UK troops on his first visit to Iraq, and promised an extra £100m ($188m) over three years to help rebuild the country's economy. | The interview comes as Chancellor Gordon Brown met UK troops on his first visit to Iraq, and promised an extra £100m ($188m) over three years to help rebuild the country's economy. |
| He was simply acknowledging the question in a polite way before going on to explain his view Downing Street spokesman Brown in first visit to Iraq Nick Robinson on Blair | He was simply acknowledging the question in a polite way before going on to explain his view Downing Street spokesman Brown in first visit to Iraq Nick Robinson on Blair |
| Commenting on the al-Jazeera broadcast, 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 the al-Jazeera broadcast, 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." | "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." |
| But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair's agreement indicated he knew there was "simply no point any more arguing with interviewers". | |
| "Tony Blair knows that's an argument that has already been lost," our correspondent says. | "Tony Blair knows that's an argument that has already been lost," our correspondent says. |
| "He wishes instead to focus on the argument about who's to blame for the disaster - insurgents he insists - and what should be done now - staying there until 'the job is done' he will continue to argue." | "He wishes instead to focus on the argument about who's to blame for the disaster - insurgents he insists - and what should be done now - staying there until 'the job is done' he will continue to argue." |
| 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". |
| I think when you step down as prime minister you step down Tony Blair Blair targets Mid-East | I think when you step down as prime minister you step down Tony Blair Blair targets Mid-East |
| 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." |
| 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." |