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Blair defiant over Iraq security Blair defiant over Iraq security
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Blair has refused to apologise for the security situation in Iraq, saying he bears no responsibility for it.Tony Blair has refused to apologise for the security situation in Iraq, saying he bears no responsibility for it.
The prime minister told BBC Radio 4 that extremists trying to thwart Iraq's democracy were to blame for attacks.The prime minister told BBC Radio 4 that extremists trying to thwart Iraq's democracy were to blame for attacks.
"I don't think we should be apologising at all for what we are doing in Iraq. We're trying to support the democrats against the terrorists," he added."I don't think we should be apologising at all for what we are doing in Iraq. We're trying to support the democrats against the terrorists," he added.
The UK is to withdraw 1,600 troops from Iraq but Mr Blair said numbers could increase again "if we're needed".The UK is to withdraw 1,600 troops from Iraq but Mr Blair said numbers could increase again "if we're needed".
He told MPs on Wednesday that the remaining 5,500 troops would stay until 2008.He told MPs on Wednesday that the remaining 5,500 troops would stay until 2008.
However, when he was asked about reversing that decision on the Today programme, he said: "I don't want to get into speculating about that because we have the full combat capability that's there.However, when he was asked about reversing that decision on the Today programme, he said: "I don't want to get into speculating about that because we have the full combat capability that's there.
I don't think we should be apologising because we're not causing the terrorism Tony Blair No Iran strike plans, says Blair Key quotes: Blair interview Ex-envoy attacks BlairI don't think we should be apologising because we're not causing the terrorism Tony Blair No Iran strike plans, says Blair Key quotes: Blair interview Ex-envoy attacks Blair
"So, if we're needed to go back in any special set of circumstances we can, but that's not the same as then increasing back the number.""So, if we're needed to go back in any special set of circumstances we can, but that's not the same as then increasing back the number."
He said he bore no responsibility nor would he apologise for the "terrible" security situation in Iraq.He said he bore no responsibility nor would he apologise for the "terrible" security situation in Iraq.
"I don't think we should be apologising because we're not causing the terrorism."I don't think we should be apologising because we're not causing the terrorism.
"It's being caused by internal extremists who are linking up with external extremists. And 80-90% of that violence is in or around Baghdad and it's being caused deliberately in order to stop the government of Iraq - which 12 million people voted for - from functioning.""It's being caused by internal extremists who are linking up with external extremists. And 80-90% of that violence is in or around Baghdad and it's being caused deliberately in order to stop the government of Iraq - which 12 million people voted for - from functioning."
PridePride
He added: "Although the situation is terrible...we should be immensely proud of the work we are doing to try to help Iraq get on its feet and be the country its people want it to be."
His assessment was at odds with comments by the former British envoy to Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock.His assessment was at odds with comments by the former British envoy to Iraq, Sir Jeremy Greenstock.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'm glad to see that our troops are coming home, but I fear Iraq may become even more unstable James, Weymouth class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5584&edition=1&ttl=20070220221929">Send us your comments Sir Jeremy, in the BBC documentary Blair: The Inside Story, said Mr Blair had taken his "eye off the ball" in the aftermath of the war and that no one in those early days had focussed on the security of Iraq. Sir Jeremy, in the BBC documentary Blair: The Inside Story, said Mr Blair had taken his "eye off the ball" in the aftermath of the war and that no one in those early days had focussed on the security of Iraq.
"There was a vacuum from the beginning into which looters, saboteurs, the criminals, the insurgents moved very quickly.""There was a vacuum from the beginning into which looters, saboteurs, the criminals, the insurgents moved very quickly."
'Dictatorship' HAVE YOUR SAY I'm glad to see that our troops are coming home, but I fear Iraq may become even more unstable James, Weymouth class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5584&edition=1&ttl=20070220221929">Send us your comments
Mr Blair dismissed suggestions coalition forces had been unprepared for the aftermath of war, particularly the sectarian violence. And Lord Butler, who chaired an inquiry into the intelligence behind the decision to go to war in Iraq, said in a House of Lords debate that Mr Blair did share some of the blame for post-war violence.
"There was no way that the Iraqi police force that was there under Saddam was going to be able to keep order in the country properly. He said: "The prime minister's centrist and informal approach to running the government prevented all the resources available in departments on this aspect from being brought into play.
"They were an instrument of Saddam's dictatorship and therefore you were always going to have to build the Iraq police and army from scratch. "We know that the International Development Secretary at the time, Clare Short, tried repeatedly to get the Cabinet to focus on post-war Iraq and got short shrift for it."
Sectarian violence
But Mr Blair has dismissed suggestions coalition forces had been unprepared for the aftermath of war, particularly the sectarian violence.
He told Radio 4 the Iraqi police force then was "an instrument of Saddam's dictatorship" and it would always have been the case that it and the army had to be rebuilt "from scratch".
The Iraq war was unique - maybe it's time to talk again about why BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in fullThe Iraq war was unique - maybe it's time to talk again about why BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
"That was what we were going to have to do. "Now, you can argue about - and I've already been back over it myself - about whether you could have disbanded the army differently and so forth, but it isn't the principal reason you've got a problem in Iraq," he told the BBC.
"Now, you can argue about - and I've already been back over it myself - about whether you could have disbanded the army differently and so forth, but it isn't the principal reason you've got a problem in Iraq.
"The principal reason you've got a problem is, as I say, because there are elements deliberately giving you that problem.""The principal reason you've got a problem is, as I say, because there are elements deliberately giving you that problem."
During the BBC interview, Mr Blair also said he knew of no plans to attack Iran. There has been tension between the US and Iran over allegations Tehran was building nuclear weapons as well as aiding Iraqi insurgents. Blair: The Inside Story will be broadcast on BBC Two on Tuesday, 27 February, at 2100 GMT.
Mr Blair said "people are pursuing a diplomatic and political solution".
Blair: The Inside Story will be broadcast on BBC Two at 2100 GMT, 27 February