World

Tony Blair: God helped me with Iraq

by mudricky | April 10, 2009 at 09:14 am

149 views | 29 Recommendations | 6 comments

Recently converted Catholic, Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United kingdom told BBC radio recently his religious beliefs helped him with the mental decision of invading Iraq and puting UK lives in danger so Saddam Hussein could be taken out of power.

He said: “I say the responsibility lies with the people doing the terrorism because there’s no reason for them to.”

TONY Blair has told how his belief in God gave him the courage to launch the war on Iraq.

The ex-PM said his religious belief provided the “comfort” he needed to oust Saddam Hussein.

He told BBC radio he still thinks about his decision to send in UK troops every day.

But he raged against al-Qaeda terrorists for wreaking carnage in post-war Iraq.

He said the view that the bloodshed since the end of the war was due to the invasion had to be challenged.

He said: “I say the responsibility lies with the people doing the terrorism because there’s no reason for them to.”

Mr Blair — who converted to Catholicism after leaving No10 in 2007 - also told of his first spiritual experience at age ten after his atheist father had a stroke.

He prayed with his headteacher who said God believed in his dad, who survived.

He added: “It made a tremendous impact on me.”

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Amaad

at 13:58 on April 10th, 2009

Bush had the similar god experince which he used to attack iraq. bit chilling that our leaders are using the same taliban philosophy of waging a holy war against their opponents as a religious duty.

Amaad

at 14:00 on April 10th, 2009

very good and thought provoking post though.

I must come clean here because I voted for labor as a gesture of support for Iraq war at that time when he was PM. becuase I belived that an Iraq free of Sadam will be better for its own people who had suffered so much of his voilence for years

Roy C

at 16:04 on April 10th, 2009

Thanks, Amaad, and having seen your other posts I am not surprised at what you have said here.

I am sorry that the Bush administration hadn't grasped the complexities in Iraq after the downfall of Saddam. That was the real tragedy. And, seeing how the Patreus surge worked, it could have been used from the beginning.

A lot of unnecessary suffering could have been prevented.

albertacowpoke

at 17:56 on April 10th, 2009

I totally agree with your comments Roy. They made some hasty decisions when they found out they couldn.t move the 24th Mech Inf Div through Turkey into Iraq. Instead of delaying the invasion, some bad decisions were made with less troops then they had planned for. They're invasion plans had to be changed on short notice too.

In any case it made for good TV when American armoured vehs led by 1 Cav raced across the desert toward Baghdad without or minimum resistance. I still hear the cheerleaders from all the various networks and CNN. It was amazing how the stance on the war changed as soon as the insurgency started.

amyjudd

at 16:09 on April 10th, 2009

Interesting, whatever he needs to believe I suppose.

jazzyzazzy

at 17:15 on April 10th, 2009

A lot of people in realising they have made a error of judgement, go into denial.The excuse to themselves is either they have found god,or a religious belief that makes them feel better about their past choices,which have resulted in catastrophy for Blare and Bush.In my mind they did not take enough time to figure out the aftermath of their choices.

albertacowpoke

at 17:58 on April 10th, 2009

Denial is a wonderful defensive tool.

Barbara McPherson

at 07:36 on April 11th, 2009

This whole God made me do it crap is just as applicable to any other fanatic. It brings back memories of the statement attributed to Billy Graham during the Vietnam 'Conflict'(never a declared war) -- Kill a Commie for Christ. Pretty catchy eh?