WP: Blair Stands Firm on Iraq Despite a Tumble in Polls

[LauraK]

LONDON, July 30 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair today acknowledged opinion polls showing he faced a steep decline in public trust following accusations that his government exaggerated intelligence claims about Iraq's weapons.

"People need to know that what we did in Iraq was right and justified, and that's a case that we have to not just assert but prove over time," he told reporters, in his first news conference since the controversy over Iraq became a full-fledged political crisis.

But he insisted that Britain and the United States had been right to take military action to overthrow former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, saying the vast majority of Iraqis were "overjoyed" to be rid of the old government. And he said the issues that truly mattered to British voters were domestic. "The public in the end will judge us on the economy, the health service, schools, crime," he said. "Those are the big issues for the public."

More here

[legin]

1. the lying weasel in full

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page4295.asp

the first quater i think is about the economy. i think it also at CSPAN.

[leesa]

2. Damn rights he has to prove it!

Still waiting for the proof the Bush and Blair comedy team promised about the perpetrators of 9-11. All we've seen are the bogus videos and other trumped up non-proof. Where are the white papers that we were promised?
Is this guy on acid??? The vast majority of Iraqis are overjoyed to be rid of the old government.

[ewagner]

3. Interesting

Blair says he cannot just assert, but will have to prove over time.

Flashback to today's pResidential Press Conference.

Bush says that he will have to provide proof over time.

Does this mean that the purpose of Blair's visit was to get their stories straight? Does it mean that David Kay has found some WMDs and the time is not yet right to reveal them?

Something is afoot here........

[kskiska]

4. Were the "vast majority of Iraqis" also "overjoyed"

to be rid of numerous family members? Was little Ali "overjoyed" to be rid of his arms? Were the Iraqis "overjoyed" to be rid of their homes and businesses?

[otohara]

5. Overjoyed To Be Bombed Into Poverty

no water, electricity and sickness, and American occupation. Those Iraqi's sure have a funny way of showing their "joy".

[goforit]

6. He's testing the weakness of their system.....Take him out MP!

He is testing to see if the parlimant has the guts and the
drive to kick him out and so far BLAIR is winning!

Sorry to say that old chaps!

[Videlicet03]

7. Blair stood up for his convictions.

I like that. Joe Lieberman is very much the same. Yes they support the war without backpedaling, but they are both very much progressive in the other areas. Wouldn't you rather have that than a lying son of a bitch who might vote one way then try to cover his ass for all situations?

[lfairban]

8. It would be nice . . .

. . . if Lieberman would admit when he is wrong, and quit trying to cover for the * administration.

[Videlicet03]

9. Joe doesn't believe he was wrong

And why isn't he entitled to his own opinion instead of being accused of 'covering for Bush'? It so happens that politically, Joe is on the correct side of the war issue, which gives him more credibility to pound the Bush economic agenda. Somebody who flat opposes Bush on everything as Dean and some others do run the risk of sounding like whiners.

[lfairban]

10. He needs to show some responsibility.

When his opinion which he is entitled to, becomes a self-serving denial of that which has become so blatantly obvious, that the reasons that he and the * administration used to justify going to war on Iraq were so much smoke and mirrors, it confirms my opinion, which I am entitled to, that he has no business becoming the Democratic nominee for president.

[indictrichardperle]

11. LIEberman ?

yea he is a real "profile in courage" :puke:

Why doesnt he just drop the charade and join the GOP, the neo-con variety ?

What a fraud that weasel is.

[Videlicet03]

12. Lieberman can win

because he is calm and reasoned. Loose cannons like Dean don't last long.

[sujan]

14. How possibly could this war be any righteous?

[ze_dscherman]

13. Whait if their convictions are wrong?

I see no reason to support people just because they stand firm, if what they stand for is despisable. And going to this war was/is a most despisable thing.

I demand that politicians, like other people, take responsibilities for their actions. They must make tough decisisions, and these decisions may be wrong. If their decision had grave consequences, like costing the life of thousands without a VERY good reason (and international law has regulations for what such a reason may be), the consequences for these politicians need be severe. It takes much more maturity and courage for a politician to admit such a mistake, than to just deny it.

Blair was proven wrong, he knows he was wrong, and he should take the consequences and admit it. After that, it's the political process and the public that decides if he is still deemed fit to lead the country.

Right now, he's so much clinging to power that he only covers his ass and makes things worse. Others may need to remove him from power, which is a very damaging process to him, his party, and his country. If this is not done, even more damage will done to justice, democracy, the political system and the international standing of the U.K.

[T_i_B]

15. MWAHAHAHAHA!

Wouldn't you rather have that than a lying son of a bitch who might vote one way then try to cover his ass for all situations?

Now I hate to tell you this, but Blair LIED about WMD in order to take Britain to war. That is why Blair is in trouble at the moment. Blair is that exact same "lying son of a bitch who might vote one way then try to cover his ass for all situations" that you are trying to claim he is not.

BTW, immigrant bashing, welfare cuts, strike breaking, PFI, tuition fees, foundation hospitals, and corporate cronyism are all hallmarks of "new" labour and none of that is in any way progressive. It is very noticable how much Blair and his sycophantic followers loathe the labour movement, which is a bit odd for a labour party.