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Blair deceived himself first over Iraq`s arms, says Hurd

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, July 16, IRNA -- Former Conservative Foreign Secretary Lord 
Hurd Friday joined the growing chorus of calls for Tony Blair to 
resign over the Iraq war, saying that the prime minister first 
deluded himself over the threat of Saddam Hussein`s alleged arms. 
Responding to the `serious flaws` found in British intelligence 
by the Butler report, he said that Blair was "radiating his personal 
brand of righteousness, using every trick of the trade to justify 
what now cannot be justified." 
"He defends himself against an accusation which no one makes, 
that he acted in bad faith. We all know that he deceived himself 
first," said Hurd, who was foreign secretary during the 1991 war 
against Iraq but opposed last year`s invasion. 
He said Blair claims that he accepts the Butler report but at the 
same time holds to his decision it was right to invade Iraq, even 
though the findings "finally knocks away the main argument he gave 
us for that decision." 
"I do not see how anyone who cares for the good name of this 
country can support a party that he leads," the former foreign 
secretary said after watching the way the prime minister performed 
in parliament in response to the damning report on Iraq intelligence. 
In an article for the Guardian newspaper Friday, he compared the 
situation facing Blair with that of former Prime Minister Anthony 
Eden over the invasion of Egypt during the 1956 Suez crisis that led 
to his resignation. 
"Like (former Prime Minister) Anthony Eden with Suez, Tony Blair 
persuaded himself and led us into a military adventure based on a 
misreading of Middle East politics and British interests," said 
Hurd. 
He said that the outcome between the two scenarios were different 
because "whereas Blair subordinated himself to the US, Eden defied 
them, but the principle is the same." 
Unlike Eden, who resigned citing ill-health, the former foreign 
secretary said that Blair was fortunately in good shape but should 
still step down. 
"His reputation and the reputation of British politics would be 
immensely enhanced if he could now find the humility and courage to 
draw a line under the controversy by leaving No 10" Downing Street, 
he argued. 
HC/1771