LONDON, (Reuters) – Former British prime minister Tony Blair said yesterday he had no regrets about the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, saying Saddam Hussein was a threat to the world who had to be disarmed or removed.
Blair said the Sept. 11 al Qaeda attacks on the United States meant rogue states had to be dealt with to prevent weapons of mass destruction (WMD) falling into the wrong hands, risking even greater carnage.
Facing the first official public grilling on why he sent 45,000 British troops to war in Iraq, he repeatedly said he was concerned that such a risk remained today, referring to fears over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.
“Responsibility, but not a regret for removing Saddam Hussein,” he said, when asked if he had misgivings about taking military action. He said a majority of Iraqis would say they were better off now than under the former dictator.
The decision to go to war was the most controversial episode of Blair’s 10-year premiership, provoking huge protests, divisions within his Labour Party and accusations he had deceived the public about the reasons for invasion.
“In the end it was divisive. And I’m sorry about that,” he said. “But if I’m asked if I believe we are safer, more secure, that Iraq is better, that our own security is better with Saddam and his two sons out of power and out of office, then I believe indeed we are.”
During six hours of intense questioning, Blair, 56, was unrepentant over the stand he took with then U.S. President George W. Bush, batting away queries about the legality of war or whether he had misled the public over the reasons for it.
“This isn’t about a lie, or a conspiracy, or a deceit, or a deception, this is a decision,” said Blair, who initially looked nervous but grew more assured as the hearing went on.
The inquiry is seeking to learn the lessons from the conflict and does not have the power to punish individuals.
Saddam’s history of using WMD and his refusal to cooperate with U.N. inspectors meant he posed a threat that could not be ignored, Blair said.
No evidence has emerged to link Iraq with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, but Blair said they had changed the “calculus of risk”.
“I believed … we were right not to run that risk,” said Blair, adding he was convinced Saddam was intent on restarting his WMD programme and had retained the intellectual know-how to do so, even though no such weapons have ever been found.
The Iraq war sapped support for Blair and his Labour Party and the issue provokes deep public anger almost three years after Blair handed over to Gordon Brown.