Overdue apology: Blair admits Iraq invasion contributed to rise of Da’ish

LONDON:

Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair on Sunday again apologised for certain aspects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, adding that there were “elements of truth” to the view it was connected to the rise of the Middle Eastern militant group Da’ish.

However, Blair insisted that he does not regret the removal of Saddam Hussein as Iraq’s leader.

“I find it hard to apologise for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in 2015, it is better that he’s not there than that he is there.”

But the former British premier did say sorry over intelligence failings and planning mistakes. “I apologise for the fact that the intelligence we received was wrong,” he told CNN in an interview.

“I also apologise for some of the mistakes in planning and, certainly, our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once you removed the regime,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2015.