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Tony Blair

Tony Blair Quotes

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Tony Blair, born on May 6, 1953, is a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He served as the leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007. Blair is known for his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and his efforts to promote global peace and development.

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All People Thinking Ifs World Way Iraq Knows Saddam Today Believe Weapons Country Ends Should Want Government Left Political Britain Problem

Famous Tony Blair Quotes

“I abhor Saddam's regime, but the basis has to be disarmament.”

Bases Regimes Saddam Disarmament

Author:Tony Blair

“I think all of our experience with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein teaches us that diplomacy has very little chance of working unless it is clear to him that if diplomacy does not work, that the threatened reality of force is there.”

Ifs Thinking Littles Doe Reality Force President Chance Teach Clear Threatened Saddam Diplomacy Hussein

Author:Tony Blair

“We've seen the reality of Saddam's regime: his thugs prepared to kill their own people, the parading of prisoners of war and now the release of those pictures of executed British soldiers.”

People War Reality Prepared Soldier British Release Prisoner Regimes Saddam Thug Prisoner Of War British Soldiers

Author:Tony Blair

“I think we've, again, got to be extremely careful; otherwise we'll misunderstand what's going on in Iraq and in Syria today. Of course, you can't say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015.”

Thinking Today Courses Responsibility Situation Bears Iraq Careful Syria Saddam

Author:Tony Blair

“Saddam was a threat, that the threat had to be dealt with.”

Author:Tony Blair

“I still think the world is better off and safer without Saddam Hussein.”

Thinking World Stills Saddam Better Off Hussein

Author:Tony Blair

“The threat from Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction - chemical, biological, potentially nuclear weapons capability - that threat is real.”

Real Weapons Mass Destruction Threat Nuclear Chemicals Capability Nuclear Weapons Saddam Hussein Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Chemical Weapons

Author:Tony Blair

“I may find Saddam Hussein's regime abhorrent - any normal person would - but the survival of it is in his hands.”

May Persons Hands Normal Survival Regimes Saddam Hussein Abhorrent

Author:Tony Blair

“Conflict is not inevitable, but disarmament is... everyone now accepts that if there is a default by Saddam the international community must act to enforce its will.”

Ifs Community Accepting Conflict International Inevitable Saddam Default Disarmament International Community

Author:Tony Blair

“Saddam Hussein's regime is despicable, he is developing weapons of mass destruction, and we cannot leave him doing so unchecked. He is a threat to his own people and to the region and, if allowed to develop these weapons, a threat to us also.”

People Ifs Weapons Mass Destruction Threat Developing Regions Regimes Saddam Hussein Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Despicable

Author:Tony Blair

“We expected, I expected to find actual usable, chemical or biological weapons after we entered Iraq. But I have to accept, as the months have passed, it seems increasingly clear that at the time of invasion, Saddam did not have stockpiles of chemical or biological weapons ready to deploy.”

Seems Accepting Clear Ready Months Weapons Iraq Expected Chemicals Saddam Invasion Biological Weapons

Author:Tony Blair

“The money from Iraqi oil will be yours - it will no longer be used by Saddam Hussein for his own benefit.”

Used Benefits Iraq Oil Saddam Hussein

Author:Tony Blair

“We promise that the events of 1991 will not happen again. We have pledged to remove Saddam. And we will deliver.”

Happens Events Promise Iraq Remove Saddam

Author:Tony Blair

“It [the intelligence service] concludes that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons, that Saddam has continued to produce them, that he has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes, including against his own Shia population; and that he is actively trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability.”

Trying Use Plans Minutes Military Produce Weapons Including Iraq Population Active Nuclear Acquire Chemicals Capability Nuclear Weapons Saddam Shia Biological Weapons Intelligence Services

Author:Tony Blair

“The intelligence is clear: (Saddam) continues to believe his WMD programme is essential both for internal repression and for external aggression.”

Believe Clear Essentials Iraq Internals Aggression Saddam Repression Programmes Wmd

Author:Tony Blair

“We are asked now seriously to accept that in the last few years-contrary to all history, contrary to all intelligence-Saddam decided unilaterally to destroy those weapons. I say that such a claim is palpably absurd.”

Years Lasts Accepting Weapons Decided Claims Iraq Contrary Absurd Saddam

Author:Tony Blair

“As I have said throughout, I have no doubt that they will find the clearest possible evidence of Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.”

Said Doubt Weapons Mass Evidence Destruction Iraq No Doubt Saddam Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction

Author:Tony Blair

“What we also know is we haven't found them [weapons of mass destruction] in Iraq - now let the survey group complete its work and give us the report... They will not report that there was no threat from Saddam, I don't believe.”

Knows Giving Believe Found Groups Havens Weapons Mass Destruction Threat Don't Believe Iraq Reports Saddam Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Surveys

Author:Tony Blair

“The evidence about Saddam having actual biological and chemical weapons, as opposed to the capability to develop them, has turned out to be wrong. I acknowledge that and accept it. I simply point out, such evidence was agreed by the whole international community, not least because Saddam had used such weapons against his own people and neighbouring countries.”

People Country Whole Used Community Accepting Weapons Evidence International Iraq Acknowledge Chemicals Capability Saddam International Community Chemical Weapons

Author:Tony Blair

“And the problem is, I can apologise for the information that turned out to be wrong, but I can't, sincerely at least, apologise for removing Saddam.”

I Can Problem Information Iraq Saddam Sincerely

Author:Tony Blair

“The world is a better place with Saddam in prison not in power.”

World Prison Iraq Saddam Better Place

Author:Tony Blair

“The view we took at the time and we take it now is that the war was justified legally because he [Saddam Hussein] remained in breach of UN resolutions.”

War Views Iraq Resolution Saddam Justified Hussein Breach

Author:Tony Blair

About the Author

Born: May 6, 1953
Known for: Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Quotes: 346

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Books & Sources

Tony Blair in His Own WordsRelated source material

New Britain: My Vision of a Young CountryRelated source material

A JourneyRelated source material

A Journey: My Political LifeRelated source material

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