Blair: 'We did not realise how strong resistance would be'

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=439312004

AS SPAIN officially announced that it will pull out of Iraq, Tony Blair yesterday admitted the coalition had underestimated how unstable the security situation in the country would become after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

The Prime Minister said he always expected resistance to the invading and occupying forces in Iraq, but not to the extent now threatening the bid to transfer power back to the Iraqi people. snip

Speaking in an interview broadcast on US television yesterday, Mr Blair said: "I think most of us would say we probably underestimated the basic security threat that we faced and we’re trying to tackle that now. It’s tough, that’s for certain.

But he added: "I always expected that these people would resist. Iraq is a symbol of the struggle, not just inside Iraq but right around the region, and indeed throughout the Muslim and the Arab world.

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[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Yeah....

Who woulda thought...

[JohnyCanuck]

2. Too bad Jesus didn't fill in Dubya

on one of their frequent chats what to expect in Iraq. I wonder why that was. I'd say it almost looks like Jesus set Dubya and the Poodle up and played them for suckers.

[Webster Green]

3. Right, poodle-boy, cuz you and smirky wouldn't listen to anyone.....

Morans!

[nolabels]

14. * was talking to his own personal god before invaded Iraq

Told Bob Woodward personally in an interview.

I would also wonder if * could listen to him either, seeing how he has a disdain for intellectuals

[Arugula Latte]

17. his "own personal Jesus"?

just like the song said ... who did that one ... Depeche Mode?

[starroute]

4. "Threatening the bid to transfer power back to the Iraqi people"

Yeah, right. The Coalition just can't wait to hand power back to the Iraqi party, but "these people" won't let them. Uh-huh. Great analysis, Tony.

[pinto]

5. Both Bush and Blair, and the talking heads, are mentioning the "region"

more often. See Blair's quote above about the importance of the "struggle" to the region, the RNC's mention of a "global crusade", Bush's "bringing change to the world" in his last sermon.

Trending to war.....

[Jacobin]

6. Then Blair is an incompetent nitwit and should resign forthwith

[molok555]

7. Shouldn't one err on the side of caution

They should have OVERestimated the resistance, but they didn't. Why? 'Cause then they would\'ve lost all those swing voters and liberal hawks.

[goforit]

8. Mr. Blair?......You have committed War Crimes!!!!!...Plain and simple!!!

Don't let the door slap ya on the way out!!!!!!!!

[daleo]

9. Foreign Office archives, 1920's

Blair could have took a quick peek at the archives, and he would have realized that resistance would be fierce. I can't believe nobody in the British government informed him of this. I understand the British have some pretty good historians.

[Matilda]

13. He could have gone back to the archives of England during WWII.

The Germans bombed the hell out of London night after night, but
the stupid people just wouldn't give in, and kept fighting back.
Funny about that - some people just don't like being invaded.

[Miss Authoritiva]

10. No...In the Bush lexicon, they "misunderestimated"

how unstable the security situation in the country would become after the toppling of Saddam Hussein.

And Tony should watch out for that whiff of imperial elitism (or is it elite imperialism?) associated with the phrase "these people."

[cornfedyank]

11. plan? there ain't no plan

pigkiller in mad max beyond thunderdome.

[rman]

12. yeah, you were "out of the loop" of reality

In a way it comes down to incompetence after all; the inability to grasp realitiy. Many of the rest of us weren't exactly surprised at the level of resistance.

[opihimoimoi]

15. A new Monty of sorts, Tony believed Bushys tale and now

gatta pay the price, resignation with honor or defeat in humiliation.

[T_i_B]

16. B-B-B-B-B-B-But they were supposed to be glad we "liberated" them!

I remember the arguments about how Saddam is an evil dicator and the Iraqi people will be eternally grateful that we bombed the f**k out of them for that reason from the Blair camp. Not the case is it?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

18. Well gee Tony.....

how come me and most everyone here at DU knew it and you didn't?
So it's either you and * are both ill informed, unaware and in the dark or

YOU KNEW IT ALL ALONG YOU LYING SONS A BITCHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[truthspeaker]

19. well maybe you should have listened to Robin Cook and millions of Britons

Who had a pretty good idea how strong the resistance would be.

Dumbass.