Carter attacks Blair for 'blind' support of US in Iraq

AFP
Saturday May 19, 2007

Former US president Jimmy Carter on Saturday attacked outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair for his "blind" support of the Iraq war, describing it as a "major tragedy for the world".
In an interview with BBC radio, Carter was asked how he would describe Blair's attitude to US President George W. Bush. He replied: "Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient.

"I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world."

Blair, who arrived in Baghdad Saturday on an unannounced visit, has suffered politically and personally since declaring his support for Bush after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

His backing of the war despite massive public opposition divided his governing Labour Party while the absence of weapons of mass destruction -- the basis for war -- and apparent manipulation of intelligence eroded trust.

There was further discontent last year when he joined Bush in refusing to back international calls on Israel to stop its bombing of Lebanon.

Carter, US president from 1977 to 1981, suggested Blair could have made a crucial difference to US political and public opinion by distancing himself during the build-up to the March 2003 invasion.