From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Blair sorry over Iraq War’s results, says decision was ‘agonizing’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleIn a speech, former British prime minister Tony Blair denies that there was a “rush to war” in the months before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
He says going to war had been the most “agonizing decision” he has ever made.
Blair says he takes full responsibility for the decision and that the British military and civil service are not to blame for the problems that developed after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The former leader says Britain had prepared for one set of facts on the ground after the invasion but found another as security in Iraq degenerated into sectarian violence.
“For all of this I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you can ever know or believe,” he says.
He concedes that intelligence assessments about Iraq had been incorrect.
— with AP
The Times of Israel Community.