Does Tony Blair Still Think He Was Right To Invade Iraq?

[pdq1]

In this interview he says he has given up trying to convince others about going to war in Iraq. Is he right and nearly everyone else wrong?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21576509

Full interview on Newsnight BBC2 tonight (Tuesday) 10.30pm

[emmie]

why did he think that it would have improved, deluded and stupid man.

[bazwillrun]

Hes even more deluded than i've always assumed.

that will teach me to assume.

lets be honest hes a career politician, he would never ever even on pain of death admit to lie/having lied etc.

[Zeuhl]

I've met Mr Bliar twice

A very powerful personality

I think it's feasible that he has genuinely convinced himself what he did was justified and he won't be capable of dismantling that no matter how much argument to the contrary is placed before him

[emmie]

i am glad that i don't get to meet these giants of politics, i might say something that i would likely regret later.

[whiskeryron]

Wasn't he a good dancer though.

WR.

[emmie]

danced right out of trouble.

[Zeuhl]

/i am glad that i don't get to meet these giants of politics, i might say something that i would likely regret later. /

LOL em

Well the first time I met him he had Cherie with him so naturally I was too frightened to say anything that might be interpreted as critical

[emmie]

one look from cruella de vil would have anyone running for cover, i always thought Blair a pompous self righteous arse, until i heard her speak.

[shaneystar2]

He should be arrested along with his cohort George Bush and they should be tried as war criminals .
They both have the blood of our soldiers and innocent Iraqis on their hands .

[emmie]

for the Iraq people certainly, and most certainly for our service men and women.

[tonyav]

I'm sure that Tony Blair will carry on thinking the same way has he always as done and that is I'm right and your wrong.

[Zeuhl]

I agree with all the above

I should add, I met him at a charity do and at a business meeting in Whitehall in 2001 and 2002.

I remember feeling uncomfortable as it was about all the nonsense with the ultimatums and weapons inspectors etc And that was before the bloodshed really got started.

[ichkeria]

Why would he change his mind necessarily? I happen to disagree with him and I am also unlikely to change my mind. Knowing the reasons why he thought he was right I am also not surprised that he hasn't changed his mind.
It's easily forgotten that at the time of the invasion of Iraq and in the months leading up to it, while many, myself included, protested against the prospect of war we were in a minority. Most people were in favour, many of those claiming later that they had been duped by dodgy dossiers etc.

[emmie]

there were millions in Britain who were against war in Iraq and not a few who took to the streets in protests.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/2765041.stm

[TWR]

Well the first time I met him he had Cherie with him so naturally I was too frightened to say anything that might be interpreted as critical

Why Zeuhl, he is an elected person, you have every right to say what you think P.M. or no P.M.

[emmie]

TWR i think he meant Cherie, she could curdle milk at 50 paces.

[TWR]

Saddam was known as a very unpredictable & dangerous person, he had to be taken out, but this should have been done by the Special Forces.

[emmie]

trouble is who put him into power in the first place?

[Zeuhl]

I agree em

i find it annoying when blair apologists say 'well we all were taken in'

clearly we 'all' weren't

apart from the marches, one indicator is a review of BBCs Question Time programmes, which for months before the invasion, every week, had a sizeable proportion of its 'cross section' audience expressing clearly argued reasons why the call for invasion was bogus.

[TWR]

Ther were both very positive people as you know Em, Saddam was like a dog, to me if a dog bites depends on the circumstances, put him /her down they do not do it again.