Blair admits Iraq is a 'disaster'

[Sapphire Blue]

Intervention in Iraq 'pretty much of a disaster' admits Blair, as minister calls it his 'big mistake'

· Downing Street plays down slip in TV interview
· Hodge criticises 'moral imperialism' in speech

Tania Branigan, political correspondent
Saturday November 18, 2006
The Guardian

Tony Blair conceded last night that western intervention in Iraq had been a disaster. In an interview with Al-Jazeera, the Arabic TV station, the prime minister agreed with the veteran broadcaster Sir David Frost when he suggested that intervention had "so far been pretty much of a disaster".

Mr Blair said: "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 difficult because 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."

(snip)

Mr Blair's remarks came hours after his trade and industry minister, Margaret Hodge, was reported to have described Iraq as his "big mistake in foreign affairs" and criticised his "moral imperialism".

John McDonnell, the leftwing MP who has pledged to challenge for Labour's leadership, said the prime minister's concession was "staggering" and urged him to bring forward Britain's exit strategy.

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."

Continued @ http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1951266,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=11

Welcome to reality, Mr. Blair.

[Phredicles]

1. Hey, he may have tried to say it before but the words were muffled,

what with his having the Dear Leader's member in his mouth and everything.

[LeftishBrit]

2. But according to the BBC news site, Downing St is now denying that he said it

or at any rate meant it.


'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.

"To portray it as some kind of admission is completely disingenuous."'


It seems that he's confused as to what he should say and do now. Matthew Parris commented in "The Times" after the election that Blair would have trouble deciding whether to go along with Bush or the Democratic Congress, and that, as the Bible nearly says, "No poodle can serve two masters." It seems that he's trying to, however! At any rate, he'll soon be gone - though we don't know exactly what Gordon Brown will be like.

[MoseyWalker]

3. For the people who create disasters to say years later

that what they created is a disaster........

is indicative of something.