Blair: No Regrets

Facing a government inquiry over the Iraq War, former English P.M. Tony Blair said that the British should feel a sense of pride about the war. “His voice was hoarse from six hours of questioning. But still he was unrepentant. To gasps of anger from grieving relatives Tony Blair used the final moments of his evidence to the Iraq war inquiry to justify leading Britain in one of the country’s most divisive conflicts in its history. Asked by the inquiry chairman, Sir John Chilcot, whether he had any regrets, he replied: ‘Responsibility but not a regret for removing Saddam Hussein. I think that he was a monster. I believe he threatened not just the region but the world. And in the circumstances that we faced then, but I think even if you look back now, it was better to deal with this threat, to remove him from office.’ Sir John appealed for calm as a heckler shouted: ‘What, no regrets? Come on!’ His voice fading, Mr Blair insisted that Britain – especially its armed forces – should feel an “immense sense of pride” over the Iraq war.”