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Tony Blair Defends His Actions After 9/11

Mike Vulpo |
September 10, 2011 | 8:50 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Former President George W. Bush and Former Prime Minister Tony Blair
Former President George W. Bush and Former Prime Minister Tony Blair
After September 11, 2001, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was one of the United States' biggest allies. Nearly 10 years to the day, Blair believes he made the right decision in supporting the U.S. and fighting against terrorism.

Speaking from his London home to outlets including BBC Radio 4, Blair warned the threat of terror would only end when we “defeat the ideology.” 

“I think it will take a generation," he said, "but the way to defeat this ideology ultimately is by a better idea, and we have it, which is a way of life based on openness, democracy, freedom and the rule of law."

No longer the prime minister, Blair’s new role is Middle East peace envoy. After visiting the country 70 times after leaving office, Blair remarks, “I'm afraid my view is that actually this is a spectrum of which the terrorists are at one end but actually that spectrum of radical Islamism goes far, far deeper than we think.”

The Daily Mail interviewed Blair’s former chief of staff Jonathan Powell who said, “Blair was one of the first world leaders to understand that the terror plot 'changed everything' in terms of global politics.”

He goes on to say Blair was one of the first world leaders to stand up for the U.S. and voice his support. “I think he was the first on television to express our sympathy as a country, but also the world's sympathy with the United States and to stand alongside them. Many Americans still remember what he said at the time and that's why he's still quite popular in the United States because he stood out there and said what the world thought about it.”

Read more about Tony Blair’s thoughts on the anniversary of 9/11 from the Daily Mail here.

Reach writer Mike Vulpo here

 

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