UK - Iraq inquiry

Blair denies covert deal with Bush over Iraq invasion

Article published on the 2010-01-29 Latest update 2010-01-29 15:38 TU

Tony Blair gives evidence to public inquiry
(Photo:Reuters)

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says there was no covert deal with the then US President George Bush to invade Iraq in 2003. Giving evidence to a public inquiry into the conflict, he emphasised his backing for the war because Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had flouted UN resolutions.

Sitting before the panel, Blair described the private meeting he had with Bush at his presidential ranch in Crawford, Texas in 2002. He said he told the president that "we are going to be with you in confronting and dealing with this threat".

He claims that how Britain did this was "an open question" and he had raised the issue of going to the UN. But he did admit that the two leaders had also discussed the possibility of a military option.

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn was a fierce opponent of the war in Iraq. He says Blair seems unclear over his motives for the invasion.

"He passionately said he is in favour of the alliance with the US and appears to put this above all else," says Corbyn.

"He made it very clear to Parliament his objective was solely about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and disarming Iraqi forces.rather than about invasion and regime change which is what George Bush wanted....perhaps the person missing from the inquiry is George Bush", he adds

Blair argued to the panel that Britain needed to be involved in the decision, not just because of its strong links with the US, but also because the proliferation of WMD's threatened Britain.

The former PM described Saddam Hussein as a "monster" who used chemical weapons on his own people and he couldn't run the risk of such a regime being allowed to develop WMDs.

Hundreds of anti-war protestors were gathered outside the building where the inquiry is being held. They include relatives of the some of the 179 British troops who have died during the conflict.