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Britain`s Blair vows to stand firm with US over Iraq
London, May 14: British Prime Minister Tony Blair continues to stand resolutely alongside the United States over its policy in Iraq, despite current difficulties faced by the coalition there, an interview published here today reveals.
London, May 14: British Prime Minister Tony Blair continues to stand resolutely alongside the United States over its policy in Iraq, despite current difficulties faced by the
coalition there, an interview published here today reveals.
Blair has faced calls to distance Britain from Washington's approach towards Iraq, both its robust military tactics to crush recent unrest and a growing scandal over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American troops.
However Blair told the "Independent" newspaper that he rejected "this idea that at the time of maximum difficulty you start messing around with your main ally."
"I am afraid that is not what we are going to do," he said.
"The most important thing is that we work with our coalition partners and sort it out, get the security situation right, so the Iraqis themselves are capable of doing the security, which is what they want to do.
"If we succeed in that, that is a huge bonus not just for the security of the region but of the world."
In a front-page article also published today, the left-leaning "Guardian" newspaper reported that a series of "key" members of Blair's ruling Labour Party were now urging him to loosen ties with the united states.
The Prime Minister should draw a distinction between Britain's largely praised peacekeeping record in Iraq and that of US troops, as well as distancing himself from US President George W Bush's plans for middle east peace, the members reportedly told Blair.
Bureau Report
However Blair told the "Independent" newspaper that he rejected "this idea that at the time of maximum difficulty you start messing around with your main ally."
"I am afraid that is not what we are going to do," he said.
"The most important thing is that we work with our coalition partners and sort it out, get the security situation right, so the Iraqis themselves are capable of doing the security, which is what they want to do.
"If we succeed in that, that is a huge bonus not just for the security of the region but of the world."
In a front-page article also published today, the left-leaning "Guardian" newspaper reported that a series of "key" members of Blair's ruling Labour Party were now urging him to loosen ties with the united states.
The Prime Minister should draw a distinction between Britain's largely praised peacekeeping record in Iraq and that of US troops, as well as distancing himself from US President George W Bush's plans for middle east peace, the members reportedly told Blair.
Bureau Report