Britain's ex-leader Tony Blair again apologised Sunday for certain aspects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, adding there were "elements of truth" to the view it was connected to the rise of the Islamic State group.
Tony Blair has finally said sorry for the Iraq War – and admitted he could be partly to blame for the rise of Islamic State.
The extraordinary confession by the former Prime Minister comes after 12 years in which he refused to apologise for the conflict.
Blair makes his dramatic ‘mea culpa’ during a TV interview about the ‘hell’ caused by his and George Bush’s decision to oust Saddam Hussein.
"I apologise for the fact that the intelligence we received was wrong," he told CNN in an interview.
"I also apologise for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime."
He added: "I find it hard to apologise for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he's not there than that he is there."
"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 realise, 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," he added, using another acronym to refer to IS.
A spokeswoman for Blair said of the CNN interview: "All of this he has said before".
She added: "Tony Blair has always apologised for the intelligence being wrong and for mistakes in planning. He has always also said, and says again here, that he does not however think it was wrong to remove Saddam."
Source : daily mail
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Old Dame, United Kingdon, United Kingdom
An apology from him at this point? He must be getting scared ...
Korotki, Devon, United Kingdom
He still makes my skin crawl every bit as much as he did when in government... slimy creep...
Boyboy06, bromley london, United Kingdom
He knows something is coming out.
Probos, Madison, United States
At long last! He has acknowledged his culpability. When will the true architects of the debacle, Ge or geBush and D ic kCheney come forward and apologize to the world for the mess they created?
Tru, gig harbor, United States
He;s just saying what everybody knows.
hereingermany, rightinthemiddle, Germany
Don't tell us what we already know! Burn in Hell!
The Right Prosper, Wisdomville, United States
Sorry for the Iraq war?? HOW ABOUT SELLING BRITAIN OUT.??? HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH TREASON!
AmericanPatriot, Beverly Hills, United States
As many as 1 million Iraqi citizens were killed as a result of these horrific and utterly bogus lies.
Darth Vader, Death Star
Tony Blair is the most hated man in the UK!
The Big E, Beverly Hills, United States
Nothing to see here they all have there private islands set up,,,the bushs bought 50000 acres in paraguay years ago with own water and natural gas on site,,,,move along peasents
Partizan YU, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tony Blair, one day, some Middle Eastern refugees will be spitting on your grave.
Terry Fishlock, New York, United States
Bush and Blair deserve to be behind bars in a dark cell, sharing together until they die. 300,000 died for their lies. May they rot in hell.
Nigel, Boston, United States
The cure was worse than the problem. Now WE"RE the bad guys over there. But, of course, they've always hated us. Now more than ever.
AmericanPatriot, Beverly Hills, United States
911Truth.org and WTC7.net explain the crimes of September 11, 2001 in accurate detail.
Pusparaj Rai, CENTRAL, Hong Kong
His policies have put people in Britain at risk.
input, no, United States
LET SEE THE SPIES WHO ARE PAID FOR BY THE BRITISH PEOPLE WHO STEAL FROM THE BRITISH PEOPLE IN SECRET , AND WE PAY YOU FOR YOUR TREASON, IS THIS WHY BLAIR GOT RID OF THE TREASON ACT ?????????????? BLAIR YOU SPY YOU ARE A TRAITOR TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE ARE YOU ARE YOU NOT ?
Groover, Hamburg
I don't see an apology for lying to the good people of the UK. He did. He can never hide from that.
Weston Lullingfield, San Francisco, United States
Go away you shape-shifting reptilian alien .
BRIT IN CHINA, NeverNeverLand, Hong Kong
Has not got the balls to appologise on British TV to the British people though. We don't want your appologies #tonyblair, we want a fair trial for war crimes.
Hylander1314, Vancouver, Canada
Read it in pure English,it's not an apology,he is passing blame.
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