Defiant Blair says no regrets over Iraq war

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.