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Tony Blair: Iraq War made UK 'hesitant' over Syria intervention Tony Blair: Iraq War made UK 'hesitant' over Syria intervention
(35 minutes later)
Tony Blair has said the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq has made the UK "hesitant" to intervene in Syria.Tony Blair has said the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq has made the UK "hesitant" to intervene in Syria.
It was not that MPs did not trust the government's assessment of the threat posed by Syria, as chemical weapon use had been proved, he said.It was not that MPs did not trust the government's assessment of the threat posed by Syria, as chemical weapon use had been proved, he said.
The former prime minister added he was disappointed the UK would not be taking part in military action.The former prime minister added he was disappointed the UK would not be taking part in military action.
And he "disagreed" with Labour leader Ed Miliband, who helped defeat the government in a Commons vote last week.And he "disagreed" with Labour leader Ed Miliband, who helped defeat the government in a Commons vote last week.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said this was the first time Mr Blair had criticised Mr Miliband, at a time when Labour's strategy on Syria had been under growing scrutiny. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said this was the first time Mr Blair had publicly criticised Mr Miliband, at a time when Labour's strategy on Syria had been under growing scrutiny.
'Difficult position''Difficult position'
Former cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw has said many Labour MPs felt "uneasy" that Britain's options had been limited after last week's vote.Former cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw has said many Labour MPs felt "uneasy" that Britain's options had been limited after last week's vote.
Writing in the Guardian, the former culture secretary said he blamed David Cameron for "petulantly" ruling out direct intervention immediately after losing the vote. Writing in the Guardian, the former culture secretary blamed David Cameron for "petulantly" ruling out direct intervention immediately after losing the vote.
But he also expressed alarm that Mr Miliband was following the prime minister's lead rather than taking a "sensible and measured approach".But he also expressed alarm that Mr Miliband was following the prime minister's lead rather than taking a "sensible and measured approach".
Mr Blair told BBC News: "This is something where I just have to disagree with the leadership of the party. "We were not voting to support Britain taking part in immediate military action, but nor were we voting to rule it out completely. Neither were most Conservatives or Liberal Democrats," said Mr Bradshaw.
Explaining his opposition to Mr Miliband's stance, Mr Blair told BBC News: "This is something where I just have to disagree with the leadership of the party.
"I know it's a difficult position for political leaders to be put in when they've got to take decisions like this, but my position on these issues is pretty clear over a long period of time.""I know it's a difficult position for political leaders to be put in when they've got to take decisions like this, but my position on these issues is pretty clear over a long period of time."
Mr Miliband, whose decision to distance himself from the Iraq war helped win him the Labour leadership in 2010 did not rule out military action ahead of last Thursday's vote but instead cautioned against a "rush to war on an ill-thought through basis, not working with the international community, not going through the UN". Mr Miliband, whose decision to distance himself from the Iraq war helped win him the Labour leadership in 2010, did not rule out military action ahead of last Thursday's vote but instead cautioned against a "rush to war on an ill-thought through basis, not working with the international community, not going through the UN".
He added: "We must learn the lessons of Iraq about any action we take."He added: "We must learn the lessons of Iraq about any action we take."
'Beyond doubt''Beyond doubt'
Mr Cameron also invoked Iraq as he tried to convince MPs to back military action, saying: "The well of public opinion has been well and truly poisoned by the Iraq episode."Mr Cameron also invoked Iraq as he tried to convince MPs to back military action, saying: "The well of public opinion has been well and truly poisoned by the Iraq episode."
But, echoing Mr Blair, he repeatedly told MPs Syria was not like Iraq, because "the fact that the Syrian government have, and have used, chemical weapons is beyond doubt".But, echoing Mr Blair, he repeatedly told MPs Syria was not like Iraq, because "the fact that the Syrian government have, and have used, chemical weapons is beyond doubt".
Explaining his reasons for backing military action, Mr Blair said not acting in Syria would be "dangerous" as it would "send a signal" that chemical weapons could be used without a "robust response".Explaining his reasons for backing military action, Mr Blair said not acting in Syria would be "dangerous" as it would "send a signal" that chemical weapons could be used without a "robust response".
Without foreign intervention, he warned "you will have a [President Bashar al-]Assad-dominated state, and that means in this instance an Iran-dominated state, probably around the borders of Lebanon and controlling most of the wealth of Syria".Without foreign intervention, he warned "you will have a [President Bashar al-]Assad-dominated state, and that means in this instance an Iran-dominated state, probably around the borders of Lebanon and controlling most of the wealth of Syria".
"And then you'll have a larger geographical hinterland to the east that will be controlled by various Sunni [Muslim] groups, most of whom are likely in these circumstances to be extreme, and you could have a breeding ground for extremism actually much worse and much more potent than Afghanistan.""And then you'll have a larger geographical hinterland to the east that will be controlled by various Sunni [Muslim] groups, most of whom are likely in these circumstances to be extreme, and you could have a breeding ground for extremism actually much worse and much more potent than Afghanistan."
'Fundamental battle''Fundamental battle'
He added: "It is an issue to do with the difficulty we encounter afterwards, and that is a really really important lesson.He added: "It is an issue to do with the difficulty we encounter afterwards, and that is a really really important lesson.
"The truth is, the reason why Iraq makes us hesitant is because Iraq showed that when you intervene in the circumstances, where you have this radical Islamist issue, both on the Shia [Muslim] side and the Sunni side, you are going to face a very difficult, tough conflict.""The truth is, the reason why Iraq makes us hesitant is because Iraq showed that when you intervene in the circumstances, where you have this radical Islamist issue, both on the Shia [Muslim] side and the Sunni side, you are going to face a very difficult, tough conflict."
There was a "fundamental battle about religion and politics within Islam", he said, which "has vast consequences for our future security".There was a "fundamental battle about religion and politics within Islam", he said, which "has vast consequences for our future security".
The UK and the US should support "the majority of people in the Muslim world [who] in fact want religion in a sensible place in politics, not trying to dominate politics", he said.The UK and the US should support "the majority of people in the Muslim world [who] in fact want religion in a sensible place in politics, not trying to dominate politics", he said.
Mr Blair, now Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia, said the Commons vote would have an impact on US-UK relations.Mr Blair, now Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia, said the Commons vote would have an impact on US-UK relations.
"What the long-term implications of that are depends on future actions," he said."What the long-term implications of that are depends on future actions," he said.
'Public disquiet''Public disquiet'
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who opposed the Iraq war in 2003, said Mr Blair's analysis. Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who opposed the Iraq war in 2003, questioned Mr Blair's analysis.
"Mr Blair's contention that public disquiet in the UK in relation to military action against Iraq can be put down to the aftermath of military action is undermined by three facts."Mr Blair's contention that public disquiet in the UK in relation to military action against Iraq can be put down to the aftermath of military action is undermined by three facts.
"First, the military action was justified on the basis that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction which were a danger to the UK, which was just plain wrong."First, the military action was justified on the basis that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction which were a danger to the UK, which was just plain wrong.
"Second, that the war against Saddam Hussein was illegal and contrary to the UN charter."Second, that the war against Saddam Hussein was illegal and contrary to the UN charter.
"Third, that the intelligence presented to Parliament and public was couched in such a way as to fit our policy decision already taken wholly contrary to principle."Third, that the intelligence presented to Parliament and public was couched in such a way as to fit our policy decision already taken wholly contrary to principle.
"The aftermath certainly didn't help public perception but it was not the only compelling reason for public disillusionment.""The aftermath certainly didn't help public perception but it was not the only compelling reason for public disillusionment."
It comes as David Cameron announced a further £52m in UK aid for victims of the civil war in Syria.It comes as David Cameron announced a further £52m in UK aid for victims of the civil war in Syria.
It will bring the UK's total spending on aid for Syria and neighbouring states to £400m.It will bring the UK's total spending on aid for Syria and neighbouring states to £400m.
What Syria means for Britain will be broadcast on Monday evening at 20:00 on BBC Radio 4.What Syria means for Britain will be broadcast on Monday evening at 20:00 on BBC Radio 4.