Papers display Tony Blair thinking UK cannot step aside from Iraq conflict
Date
7/23/2024 8:17:27 AM
(MENAFN) Newly declassified papers have unveiled that Tony Blair, a year before the onset of the Iraq War, communicated to his aides that Britain “could not stand aside” from an invasion. These documents highlight the extensive efforts by United Kingdom officials to counter European resistance to the offensive, particularly from France and Germany. The released files show that the Blair administration was strategically working to prevent any consolidation of support for the anti-war stance championed by these nations. In a notable instance, Chris Patten, the British European Union commissioner at the time, conveyed to Arab diplomats that Iraq should not misinterpret the anti-war protests in Europe as an indication of support for Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Following the March 2003 invasion, Blair outlined a new foreign policy strategy, asserting that Britain had “six months to settle the world.” This directive was part of a broader effort to shape global order post-invasion. The Iraq notes, among thousands of documents released by the United Kingdom’s National Archives, span from 1999 to 2003 and provide an in-depth look at Blair’s tenure as prime minister. These papers include diplomatic cables, briefing notes for Blair’s discussions with foreign leaders, and memos from No 10 Downing Street, many of which bear Blair’s handwritten annotations.
The documents shed light on the post-9/11 era when Blair and United States President George Bush identified Iraq and Saddam Hussein as significant threats. As early as March 2002, David Manning, an aide at No 10, reported from a meeting with Germany’s ambassador that the United States had decisively committed to regime change in Iraq. This revelation underscores the firm stance taken by the United States and United Kingdom long before the actual invasion, revealing a coordinated effort to align international opinion and strategy towards the removal of Saddam Hussein.
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