Iraq war 'pretty much a disaster', Blair concedes

[caledesi]

Iraq war 'pretty much a disaster', Blair concedes
By Philip Webster

The admission came as a close ally of his was said to have expressed the same opinion

TONY BLAIR went close last night to admitting that the invasion of Iraq had been disastrous. Challenged in an interview on al-Jazeera’s new English-language channel that the Western intervention in Iraq had “so far been pretty much of a disaster”, he gave a brief agreement before swiftly moving on.

He said: “It has, but you see what I say to people is, ‘Why is it difficult in Iraq?’ It is not difficult because of some accident in planning, it is difficult because there is a deliberate strategy, al-Qaeda with Sunni insurgents on one hand, Iranian-backed elements with Shia militias on the other, to create a situation in which the will of the majority for peace is displaced by the will of the minority for war.”

Mr Blair’s frank remarks came on the day that one of his most loyal ministers was reported to have described the war as “his big mistake in foreign affairs”. Margaret Hodge was said to have accused Mr Blair of espousing “moral imperialism”, remarks that she denied through an aide but which were recalled by people who attended the private meeting at which she was alleged to have made them.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2459168.html

[thingfisher]

1. He said:

“It has, but you see what I say to people is, ‘Why is it difficult in Iraq?’ It is not difficult because of some accident in planning, it is difficult because there is a deliberate strategy, al-Qaeda with Sunni insurgents on one hand, Iranian-backed elements with Shia militias on the other, to create a situation in which the will of the majority for peace is displaced by the will of the minority for war.”

The will of the majority for peace is displaced by the will of the minority for war - just like in the USA and the UK?

[bemildred]

2. You have it.

They are just like us, only better at it.