Blair: Iraq is a disaster
Sir David Frost was appearing on al-Jazeera for the first time
Also In The News
|
Darren Bent could be sold in January to help bring in fresh blood and save Charlton from relegation. |  |
Saturday, 18, Nov 2006 07:53
Tony Blair has apparently admitted that the violence dominating Iraq since coalition forces ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003 is a "disaster".
During an interview with Sir David Frost on the newly launched al-Jazeera English-language channel, the prime minister had it suggested to him that the allied involvement in Iraq had been "pretty much a disaster".
In response, Mr Blair made an unexpected retort. "It has," he said, before adding: "There's a deliberate strategy - al-Qaida 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."
Such an admission is certainly the closest Mr Blair has come to stating that he made a mistake in supporting the US-led invasion of Iraq and the subsequent occupation of the country.
And despite the fact that Mr Blair attempted to clarify his comments, the remark will undoubtedly be jumped upon by anti-war campaigners.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has already responded, suggesting Mr Blair has "at long last" accepted the "enormity of the decision to take military action against Iraq".
Downing Street sought to play down the comment as Mr Blair merely acknowledging the 67-year-old veteran interviewer's question in a "polite" way before going on to explain his comments.
The interview was the first to be conducted by Sir David on the new channel, which launched last week after a number of delays.