Blair Surprised by Scale of Insurgency

[tocqueville]

48 minutes ago

BRIGHTON, England - Prime Minister Tony Blair defended Britain's commitment to stay in Iraq, calling it "crucial for security of the world" but conceded on Sunday he was surprised by the ferocity of the insurgency.

Blair, a firm ally of President Bush in the conflict, said he had not set a deadline for withdrawing some 8,500 British soldiers from Iraq. "There is no arbitrary date being set."

"But I have absolutely no doubt as to what we should do. We should stick with it," the prime minister told the British Broadcasting Corp. at the start of the annual Labour Party conference.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that what is happening in Iraq now is crucial for our own security," Blair said. "Never mind the security of Iraq or the greater Middle East. It is crucial for the security of the world."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050925/ap_on_re_eu/britain_blair

[whistle]

1. Perhaps the start of Iraq's TET offensive

[glitch]

2. This is not the sharpest tack on the board...

I wonder if he still thinks PNAC is an internet conspiracy theory?

[grytpype]

3. yeah, him and Bush.

Those were the people who were surprised.