Blair: History will be my judge.

'Tony Blair defied critics of the war against Iraq (US speak in a rare joint congress session) by declaring that he will be vindicated by history even if weapons of mass destruction are not found.

"Can we be sure that terrorism and weapons of mass destruction will join together? Let us say one thing. If we are wrong, we will have destroyed a threat that is at its least responsible for human carnage and suffering. That is something I am confident history will forgive. But if our critics are wrong, if we are right - as I believe with every fibre or instinct and conviction I have that we are - and we do not act, then we will have hesitated in the face of this menace when we should have given leadership. That is something history will not forgive.

The risk is that terrorism and states developing WMD come together. When people say that risk is fanciful, I say: We know the Taliban supported al-Qa'ida; we know Iraq under Saddam gave haven to and supported terrorist."

Did anyone else read this & think what a load of absolute bull??

What he is basically saying - is that they have no idea if there are any WMD or not, but because Blair himself believes they will, that makes the whole thing ok. This is an extremely dangerous precedent I happen to think. Look at the events that have happened recently here, with a respected scientist being driven to suicide by bullying & huge pressure on the BBC to reveal its sources.

What kind of democracy is it - where journalists r being forced to do so?? They even tried to pass a motion yesterday, that would make this a law....

So in summary.... Even the governments have no evidence of WMD... of links to terrorism... yet have misled the people of not one - but 4 countries into believing in a war (albeit very reservedly anyhow - except in the US) for reasons not supported.

A war that was rushed into - with no useful plan of the recovery after war - which has now been admitted by the US is turning into Guerilla warfare. Surely with their superior intelligence, this is something they could have predicted.

& then make speeches in front of a bunch of cheering sheep - 15% of which think WMD have actually been found.... about how he will be revered & 'forgiven' in History. Last peron to say that was a certain Italian dictator....

Mike