Tony Blair apologizes for Iraq war 'mistakes

[Musafir117]

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday said he was sorry for the "mistakes" committed in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but stopped short of apologizing for ousting then-Iraq president Saddam Hussein.

"I can say that I apologize for the fact that the intelligence we received was wrong because, even though he had used chemical weapons extensively against his own people, against others, the program in the form that we thought it was did not exist in the way that we thought," the former British prime minister said in an interview with CNN.

Blair was referring to the claim that Saddam's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction, a claim the US and its allies used to justify the Iraq invasion. But the intelligence reports the claim was based on turned out to be false.

Blair, who served as prime minister between 1997 and 2007, has repeatedly denied rushing to war. Under his leadership, Britain made the second biggest troop contribution to the Iraq invasion, and British forces were stationed in the country until 2011.

The US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein's government and pushed Iraq into chaos, resulting in years of deadly sectarian violence and the rise of al Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor of the extremist group now known as Daesh.

The decision to back the Iraq invasion is now deeply unpopular in Britain and has haunted Blair's Labour Party ever since.

Although Blair said he apologizes "for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime", he stopped short of a full apology for the war or for ousting Saddam and eventually sending him to his death.

"I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he's not there than that he is there," Blair said.

Blair also admitted partial responsibility for eventual the rise of the extremist group Daesh and that the 2003 Iraq invasion was the principle cause behind it.

"Of course, you can't say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015," he said.

"But it's important also to realize, one, that the Arab Spring which began in 2011 would also have had its impact on Iraq today, and two, ISIS actually came to prominence from a base in Syria and not in Iraq."

Blair committed UK to Iraq war year before invasion: report

The former British PM's apology comes on the heels of a report that claims he was committed to joining the United States in the Iraq war a year before the 2003 invasion.

The revelations from documents obtained by a UK newspaper focus on a memo allegedly written by former US secretary of state Colin Powell on March 28, 2002 to then president George Bush a week before the US leader's meeting with Blair at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

"On Iraq, Blair will be with us should military operations be necessary," wrote Powell, in a document the Mail on Sunday published on its website.

"He is convinced on two points: the threat is real; and success against Saddam will yield more regional success," Powell said, referring to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was eventually ousted in the 2003 US-led invasion.

The newspaper, the Mail on Sunday, said the memo and other sensitive documents were part of a batch of secret emails held on the private server of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton which US courts have forced her to reveal.

A separate quote from Powell assured Bush "the UK will follow our lead in the Middle East", while other statements suggest Blair's willingness to present "strategic, tactical and public affairs lines" to strengthen public support for the Iraq war.

A controversial inquiry by former civil servant John Chilcot into the decisions leading up to the war was expected to take a year to report, but is still not public despite being announced by the government six years ago.

"This story is nothing new. The memo is consistent with what Mr Blair was saying publicly at the time and with Mr Blair´s evidence given to the Chilcot Inquiry" said a spokesperson for Blair's office.
Tony Blair apologizes for Iraq war mistakes - thenews.com.pk
................
And your mistake along with bush caused thousands died/injured/homeless and still Iraq and arounding is unstable bombs blasts sectarians war. And this axxhole said it was a mistake. MF

 

[Beast]

That is why the british pivot towards China. US, a country that constantly lies to its allies and give them nothing but trouble cannot be trusted.

 

[Musafir117]

That is why the british pivot towards China. US, a country that constantly lies to its allies and give them nothing but trouble cannot be trusted.

US and UK are two sides of same coin they toss and one of them lead, tail or head.

Blair-Bush deal before Iraq war revealed in secret memo | World news | The Guardian

 

[Mabs]

View attachment 267021

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday said he was sorry for the "mistakes" committed in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but stopped short of apologizing for ousting then-Iraq president Saddam Hussein.

"I can say that I apologize for the fact that the intelligence we received was wrong because, even though he had used chemical weapons extensively against his own people, against others, the program in the form that we thought it was did not exist in the way that we thought," the former British prime minister said in an interview with CNN.

Blair was referring to the claim that Saddam's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction, a claim the US and its allies used to justify the Iraq invasion. But the intelligence reports the claim was based on turned out to be false.

Blair, who served as prime minister between 1997 and 2007, has repeatedly denied rushing to war. Under his leadership, Britain made the second biggest troop contribution to the Iraq invasion, and British forces were stationed in the country until 2011.

The US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein's government and pushed Iraq into chaos, resulting in years of deadly sectarian violence and the rise of al Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor of the extremist group now known as Daesh.

The decision to back the Iraq invasion is now deeply unpopular in Britain and has haunted Blair's Labour Party ever since.

Although Blair said he apologizes "for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime", he stopped short of a full apology for the war or for ousting Saddam and eventually sending him to his death.

"I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he's not there than that he is there," Blair said.

Blair also admitted partial responsibility for eventual the rise of the extremist group Daesh and that the 2003 Iraq invasion was the principle cause behind it.

"Of course, you can't say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015," he said.

"But it's important also to realize, one, that the Arab Spring which began in 2011 would also have had its impact on Iraq today, and two, ISIS actually came to prominence from a base in Syria and not in Iraq."

Blair committed UK to Iraq war year before invasion: report

The former British PM's apology comes on the heels of a report that claims he was committed to joining the United States in the Iraq war a year before the 2003 invasion.

The revelations from documents obtained by a UK newspaper focus on a memo allegedly written by former US secretary of state Colin Powell on March 28, 2002 to then president George Bush a week before the US leader's meeting with Blair at his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

"On Iraq, Blair will be with us should military operations be necessary," wrote Powell, in a document the Mail on Sunday published on its website.

"He is convinced on two points: the threat is real; and success against Saddam will yield more regional success," Powell said, referring to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, who was eventually ousted in the 2003 US-led invasion.

The newspaper, the Mail on Sunday, said the memo and other sensitive documents were part of a batch of secret emails held on the private server of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton which US courts have forced her to reveal.

A separate quote from Powell assured Bush "the UK will follow our lead in the Middle East", while other statements suggest Blair's willingness to present "strategic, tactical and public affairs lines" to strengthen public support for the Iraq war.

A controversial inquiry by former civil servant John Chilcot into the decisions leading up to the war was expected to take a year to report, but is still not public despite being announced by the government six years ago.

"This story is nothing new. The memo is consistent with what Mr Blair was saying publicly at the time and with Mr Blair´s evidence given to the Chilcot Inquiry" said a spokesperson for Blair's office.
Tony Blair apologizes for Iraq war mistakes - thenews.com.pk
................
And your mistake along with bush caused thousands died/injured/homeless and still Iraq and arounding is unstable bombs blasts sectarians war. And this axxhole said it was a mistake. MF

Aww he said 'I'm sorry'. Let's not be too harsh on him now. After all, is Iraq really in a bad shape after the British supported invasion? Of course not. We forgive you Blair, the humanity forgives you!

 

[xyxmt]

That is why the british pivot towards China. US, a country that constantly lies to its allies and give them nothing but trouble cannot be trusted.

UK doesnt care what she will have to do as long as their PM can stand next to the most powerful man. In next 10 years Chinese Premier will be the most powerful man so UK is making a room for themselves. 10 year ago UK was dancing to US tunes to malign China at every chance they get. The only economy left in UK is the banking system and it going to be moving to Shanghai or Beijing soon it seems.

 

[Musafir117]

Aww he said 'I'm sorry'. Let's not be too harsh on him now. After all, is Iraq really in a bad shape after the British supported invasion? Of course not. We forgive you Blair, the humanity forgives you!

Let's not harsh on him? He should be hanged with Bush on their MISTAKES=Blunder lies to kill thousands, humanity remember them as Devils of deaths.

 

[tranquilium]

Let's not harsh on him? He should be hanged with Bush on their MISTAKES=Blunder lies to kill thousands, humanity remember them as Devils of deaths.

He is being sarcastic.

 

[Dubious]

Tony Blair says he's sorry for Iraq War 'mistakes,' but not for ousting Saddam

By Jethro Mullen, CNN
Updated 1122 GMT (1922 HKT) October 25, 2015 | Video Source: CNN

(CNN)Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he's sorry for "mistakes" made in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, but he doesn't regret bringing down dictator Saddam Hussein.

"I can say that I apologize for the fact that the intelligence we received was wrong because, even though he had used chemical weapons extensively against his own people, against others, the program in the form that we thought it was did not exist in the way that we thought," Blair said in an exclusive interview on CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS that airs Sunday.

Blair was referring to the claim that Saddam's regime possessed weapons of mass destruction, which was used by the U.S. and British governments to justify launching the invasion. But the intelligence reports the claim was based on turned out to be false.

The ensuing war and dismantling of Saddam's government plunged Iraq into chaos, resulting in years of deadly sectarian violence and the rise of al Qaeda in Iraq, a precursor of ISIS. Tens of thousands of Iraqis, more than 4,000 U.S. troops and 179 British service members were killed in the lengthy conflict.

As the most high-profile foreign ally of former U.S. President George W. Bush in the Iraq invasion, Blair has found his legacy overshadowed by the war, with questions and criticism following him wherever he goes.

The consequences of Bush's decision to to take America into Iraq has repeatedly reared its head this year among candidates vying for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

'I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam'
Blair told Zakaria that besides the flawed Iraq intelligence, he also apologizes "for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime."

But he stopped short of a full apology for the war.

"I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he's not there than that he is there," Blair said.

Saddam was notorious for his ruthless oppression of Iraqi citizens during more than three decades of dictatorship. He launched ruinous wars against neighbors Iran and Kuwait, and used chemical weapons against the Kurds in northern Iraq.

But present day Iraq is still under heavy strain from sectarian tensions and is struggling to deal with the threat of ISIS, the Sunni Muslim extremist group that has imposed its brutal rule on significant parts of the north and west of the country.

Admits partial responsibility for ISIS rise
Blair acknowledged to Zakaria that there are "elements of truth" in the view that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was the principle cause of the rise of ISIS.

"Of course, you can't say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015," he said. "But it's important also to realize, one, that the Arab Spring which began in 2011 would also have had its impact on Iraq today, and two, ISIS actually came to prominence from a base in Syria and not in Iraq."

More broadly, Blair said, the policy debate on Western intervention remains inconclusive.

"We have tried intervention and putting down troops in Iraq; we've tried intervention without putting in troops in Libya; and we've tried no intervention at all but demanding regime change in Syria," he said. "It's not clear to me that, even if our policy did not work, subsequent policies have worked better."

Asked by Zakaria how he feels about being branded a "war criminal" for his decision to go into Iraq, Blair said he did what he thought was right at the time.

"Now, whether it's right or not, that's for -- everyone can have their judgment about that," he said.

Blair's interview with Zakaria comes ahead of a special program, "Long Road to Hell: America in Iraq," that premieres on CNN and CNN International on Monday at 9 p.m., ET.

Tony Blair says he's sorry for Iraq War 'mistakes' - CNN.com


Stupid retard has blood on his hand!

 

[saiyan0321]

You annihalate an entire country, you give birth to a disease that is starting to engulf the entire region, you kill hundreds of thousands and injure just as many, you bring hell upon an entire nation of people, you mercilessly destroyed their peace for your own interests and left them for dead in the hands of wolves, you destroy any semblance of administration and army so that you could gain OIL, you bring hell upon an entire country and then have the audacity to dub it as a mistake and say you are sorry.

The entire region will pay for the blunder that you and your friends in the US have cost. So much blood is on their hands and it keeps on piling up as ISIS moves forward. Every execution, every man, woman, child, every rape, every mutiliation over there and the region is your fault and you bear responsibility....

The funny thing is that you losers have no idea how to solve or even curb this hell that has been unleashed in the region...

An entire country will never be the same bcz of these clowns. Go to hell with your apology.

 

[Dubious]

You annihalate an entire country, you give birth to a disease that is starting to engulf the entire region, you kill hundreds of thousands and injure just as many, you bring hell upon an entire nation of people, you mercilessly destroyed their peace for your own interests and left them for dead in the hands of wolves, you destroy any semblance of administration and army so that you could gain OIL, you bring hell upon an entire country and then have the audacity to dub it as a mistake and say you are sorry.

The entire region will pay for the blunder that you and your friends in the US have cost. So much blood is on their hands and it keeps on piling up as ISIS moves forward. Every execution, every man, woman, child, every rape, every mutiliation over there and the region is your fault and you bear responsibility....

The funny thing is that you losers have no idea how to solve or even curb this hell that has been unleashed in the region...

An entire country will never be the same bcz of these clowns. Go to hell with your apology.

yet they are not trialed as war criminals.....Vietnam repeated again!

 

[The Sandman]

wow isn't it awesome i mean they destroyed a country killed millions of innocent people and now he is saying that he is "SORRY" these guys are even worse than satan i think

 

[jamahir]

sorry, tony boy, you and your friend, bush jr, are already charged in absentia with war crimes ( Lawsuit Against Bush and Blair for War Crimes? International Lawyers Seek Justice for Iraqis | Global Research - Centre for Research on Globalization ).

also, many british people also want you tried ( “Arrest Tony Blair for War Crimes”: UK Parliamentary Petition | Global Research - Centre for Research on Globalization ).

obomba, sarkozy, hillary, cameron, merkel, erdogan, hollande, hamad al-thani - you are next.

 

[Psychic]

@levina

 

[Levina]

@levina

I think somebody should go and tell this to Tony blair

 

[yugocrosrb95]

Saddam was a dick, but that isn't excuse to destroy whole country.