Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he could not imagine the “nightmare” unfolded in Iraq, but still did not regret joining the US-led invasion.
According to Blair, the 2003 invasion of Iraq was justified because Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein could have developed weapons of mass destruction.
He further pointed out that he felt “desperately sorry” for the lives cut short.
“I can’t regret the decision to go to war … I can say that never did I guess the nightmare that unfolded,” said Blair, referring to the years of bloodshed in Iraq that followed the invasion.
Blair was the closest to former US President George W. Bush over the decision to invade Iraq.
The decision of invasion was the most controversial of Blair’s 10-year premiership which provoked huge protests, created divisions within the Labour Party and deceived Britons over his reasons for war when weapons of mass destruction were not found.
“I feel words of condolence and sympathy to be entirely inadequate,” Blair wrote of the war’s casualties.
“They have died and I, the decision-maker in the circumstances that led to their deaths, still live.”
Years into the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the country remains the scene of terror attacks and bomb explosions on an almost daily basis.
Iraq is also gripped in a months-long political impasse following the inconclusive general elections of March 7, and concerns that the resulting security gap would take a yet heavier toll on Iraqi civilians.
The US has just completed withdrawing its combat troops from the Iraq, but thousands of its troops stay in the country for what Washington describes as training purposes.
He further pointed out that he felt “desperately sorry” for the lives cut short.
“I can’t regret the decision to go to war … I can say that never did I guess the nightmare that unfolded,” said Blair, referring to the years of bloodshed in Iraq that followed the invasion.
Blair was the closest to former US President George W. Bush over the decision to invade Iraq.
The decision of invasion was the most controversial of Blair’s 10-year premiership which provoked huge protests, created divisions within the Labour Party and deceived Britons over his reasons for war when weapons of mass destruction were not found.
“I feel words of condolence and sympathy to be entirely inadequate,” Blair wrote of the war’s casualties.
“They have died and I, the decision-maker in the circumstances that led to their deaths, still live.”
Years into the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the country remains the scene of terror attacks and bomb explosions on an almost daily basis.
Iraq is also gripped in a months-long political impasse following the inconclusive general elections of March 7, and concerns that the resulting security gap would take a yet heavier toll on Iraqi civilians.
The US has just completed withdrawing its combat troops from the Iraq, but thousands of its troops stay in the country for what Washington describes as training purposes.
Source: Press TV
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