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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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Famous Tony Blair Quotes

“Our ultimate weapon is not our guns but our beliefs...The spread of freedom is the best security for the free. It is our last line of defense and our first line of attack.”

Firsts Lasts Belief Lines Security Weapons Gun Ultimate Spread Defense

Author:Tony Blair

“Our ultimate weapon is not our guns but our beliefs ... Ours are not Western values. They are the universal values of the human spirit and anywhere, any time, ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same. Freedom not tyranny. Democracy not dictatorship. The rule of law not the rule of the secret police. The spread of freedom is the best security for the free. It is our last line of defence and our first line of attack.”

“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

“We have a situation where we are rich really as a world overall, and yet we have the capacity to destroy ourselves, either through nuclear weapons or through environmental degradation, and we allow the life chances of hundreds of millions of people to be destroyed because we haven't found the will to tackle it”

“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

“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

“If we don't act now, then we will go back to what has happened before and then of course the whole thing begins again and he carries on developing these weapons and these are dangerous weapons, particularly if they fall into the hands of terrorists who we know want to use these weapons if they can get them.”

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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

“I have absolutely no doubt at all that we will find evidence of weapons of mass destruction programmes.”

Doubt Weapons Mass Evidence Destruction Iraq No Doubt Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Programmes

Author:Tony Blair

“I don't think it's surprising we will have to look for them. I'm confident that when the Iraq Survey Group has done its work we will find what's happened to those weapons because he had them.”

Thinking Looks Done Happened Groups Weapons Iraq Surprising Surveys

Author:Tony Blair

“Repressive states are developing weapons that could cause destruction on a massive scale.”

States Causes Weapons Destruction Iraq Scales Developing Massive

Author:Tony Blair

“What is true about (ex-Iraq Survey Group head) David Kay's evidence, and this is something I have to accept, and is one of the reasons why I think we now need a new inquiry - it is true David Kay is saying we have not found large stockpiles of actual weapons.”

Thinking Needs Reason Found Accepting Groups Weapons Evidence Iraq Reason Why Inquiry Exes Surveys

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

“We expected, I expected to find actual usable, chemical or biological weapons after we entered Iraq.”

Weapons Iraq Expected Chemicals Biological Weapons

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

“Before people crow about the absence of weapons of mass destruction, I suggest they wait a bit.”

People Bits Waiting Weapons Mass Destruction Absence Crow Weapons Of Mass Destruction Mass Destruction Wmd

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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