Tony Blair aide: We didn’t write in blood that we’d help US invade Iraq

Jonathan Powell said that Mr Blair had actually warned President Bush of the dangers of toppling Saddam
12 April 2012

Tony Blair did not give "an undertaking in blood" that Britain would join the war on Iraq, one of Tony Blair's most senior aides claimed today.

Jonathan Powell, Mr Blair's former chief of staff, denied the prime minister gave an unconditional pledge for military action at a meeting at George Bush's Texas ranch nearly a year before the invasion. Giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, Mr Powell said Mr Blair had actually warned President Bush of the dangers of toppling Saddam.

He also said Mr Blair had told vice-president Dick Cheney — a fierce hawk — to beware of "unintended consequences" such as post-war violence. But Mr Powell admitted the premier was "always clear that the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein", and if the UN couldn't deal with him, other means would have to be used.

Mr Powell, a former diplomat, said he had warned Mr Blair that Iraq would not be like Kosovo or Afghanistan, and removing Saddam would have a knock-on effect on the Middle-East peace process.

He added: "There was no undertaking in blood to go to war on Iraq. There was no firm decision to go to war. We knew that the best-laid plans disappear in the fog of war and you need to be prepared for the unexpected."

Mr Powell said Mr Blair was in favour of a robust approach: "He thought the best way to pursue this, as with Afghanistan, would be to go down the UN route to try to give Saddam every chance to comply. But if he didn't, to build a wide coalition to deal with him."

Describing Saddam as a "fascist", he said: "You can believe it's good to get rid of a dictator — as a socialist I believe it's good to get rid of a fascist dictator."

The inquiry published a confidential telegram, from the British Embassy in Washington to UK diplomats, about Mr Blair's meeting with Mr Bush at the ranch in April 2002. It states: "The Prime Minister came away convinced that President Bush would act in a calm, measured and sensible but firm way. There was no question of precipitate action."

Mr Blair will give evidence on 29 January — a week on Friday. He will face two three-hour sessions with the committee chaired by Sir John Chilcot. The results of the public ballot for seats at his testimony were announced today.

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