Blair denies claims British presence in Iraq fuels extremism

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061017/wl_uk_afp/britainiraqmilitary_061017163133;_ylt=ApSd0K94loQsdosWEO_6ks6GOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA2ZGZwam4yBHNlYwNmYw--

Blair denies claims British presence in Iraq fuels extremism

by Lachlan Carmichael 15 minutes ago

LONDON (AFP) - Prime Minister
Tony Blair has vowed to keep British troops in
Iraq until their "job is done" as he rejected claims that their presence fueled Muslim extremism at home and abroad.


Blair defended his Iraq policies Tuesday when asked whether he agreed with army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt, who called last week for their withdrawal soon because they exacerbated Britain's security problems.

Blair urged reporters at his monthly press conference to put Dannatt's interview in Friday's Daily Mail newspaper in the context of remarks he gave later the same day on radio and television.

"Of course it's the case ... for some of those areas in Iraq, particularly where Iraqi forces now want to take control over areas, it's important we don't overstay the time we need to be there," Blair said.

"But in no sense was he saying -- and neither should anybody say -- that we should get out of Iraq before the job is done," Blair said.

[Barrett808]

1. No walking away from Iraq - Blair

British forces will not "walk away" from Iraq or Afghanistan until their job there is done, Tony Blair has said.

To pull out would leave enemies and extremists "heartened and emboldened", he told his monthly press conference.

British army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt has warned that UK troops "exacerbated" Iraq's security problems and should withdraw "sometime soon".

But Mr Blair said that the general was not calling for the immediate withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

"Of course, it is the case that for some of those areas in Iraq, particularly where the Iraqi forces now want to take control of those areas, it is important that we don't overstay the time that we need to be there," he said.

"But in no sense was he saying - and neither should anybody say - that we should get out of Iraq before the job is done."

(more)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6057812.stm

[BOSSHOG]

2. Stay the course until all your Soldiers are dead tony

Are you trying to impress bush? Do you realize how pathetic that is?

[dipsydoodle]

3. not "walk away"

running might be a better solution.

[Benhurst]

7. Did he make that statement from Baghdad?

The cowardly little turd has kept his distance -- and that of his family-- from the horror he created.

Screw your courage to the wall, Labour, and flush :hurts: the nasty little turd now!

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. He ought to put on a helmet & get his ass over there then.

[0007]

5. Yappity yap yap yap

woof woof woof woof woof woof .... remember 1920 Tony?

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Tony is right this time.

He should be RUNNING away from Iraq.

[krispos42]

8. Blair: "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

[High Plains]

9. ...not just a river in Egypt

[ninkasi]

10. Bush and Blair are both delusional

They both claim we need to stay in Iraq "until the job is done." That makes about as much sense as the mayor of NYC claiming that the police force can be dissolved "after crime has been stopped." In the case of Iraq, there is nothing we can do that will help. Remember, this is Dubya's war. He wanted it before he stole the presidency. There was nothing, and I mean NOTHING that Saddam could have done, or agreed to, which would have stopped Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Both Bush and Saddam have been responsible for thousands of deaths, and a country which is crumbling. As evil as he is, before Bush got his war, consider this...regarding the first of many reasons given for starting the war, which of the two was lying, and which was telling the truth about the WMDs. It wasn't Bush.

[mc jazz]

11. going against our military

funny how neo-shlongs discount the military in their strategems. they expect them to be some crusading force of goodness while bombing the hell out of iraq. I heard they had soldiers painting buildings being told they had to 'make friends', WTF they must hate blair more than us

[samsingh]

12. what's blair going to say now?

[bluedeminredstate]

13. Blair denies claims British presence in Iraq fuels extremism

Tomorrows headline: "Blair denies food that goes in one's mouth comes out one's ass"
:rofl: