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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq | Blair accepts 'disaster' in Iraq |
| (1 day 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 said Mr Blair had finally accepted the enormity of his decision to go to war in Iraq. | The Liberal Democrats said Mr Blair had finally accepted the enormity of his decision to go to war in Iraq. |
| But Downing Street insisted his views had been misrepresented and that he had not made "some kind of admission". | But Downing Street insisted his views had been misrepresented and that he had not made "some kind of admission". |
| 'Not accident in planning' | 'Not accident in planning' |
| A spokesman said the prime minister often agreed with interviewers when he responded to their questions. | A spokesman said the prime minister often agreed with interviewers when he responded to their questions. |
| Mr Blair was challenged by Sir David over the violence in Iraq, saying it had "so far been pretty much of a disaster". | Mr Blair was challenged by Sir David over the violence in Iraq, saying it had "so far been pretty much of a disaster". |
| 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 | |
| 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 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 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." |
| 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. |
| 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." |
| 'Completely disingenuous' | 'Completely disingenuous' |
| 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." |
| We have said that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government needs us to do so Tony Blair Blair targets Mid-East | We have said that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government needs us to do so Tony Blair Blair targets Mid-East |
| But BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Blair's agreement indicated he knew there was "simply no point any more arguing with interviewers". | 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," he added. | "Tony Blair knows that's an argument that has already been lost," he added. |
| "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." |
| In the interview, Mr Blair stressed the importance of progress in the Middle East peace process in winning the "war on terror". | In the interview, Mr Blair 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. |
| Syria and Iran could play a "constructive" role in the Middle East, Mr Blair added, and it was absurd to suggest that talking to the countries amounted to "appeasement". | Syria and Iran could play a "constructive" role in the Middle East, Mr Blair added, and it was absurd to suggest that talking to the countries amounted to "appeasement". |
| When asked about UK troops in Iraq, he said: "We have said that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government needs us to do so." | When asked about UK troops in Iraq, he said: "We have said that we will stay as long as the Iraqi government needs us to do so." |