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'I did what I thought was right'
10/05/2007 14:55 - (SA)
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| A cleaner wipes the door to British PM Tony Blair's official residence at 10 Downing Street, ahead of his resignation announcement. (Lefteris Pitarakis, AP) |
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London - Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair defended his record in office on Thursday, saying "I did what I thought was right" during his decade in power, particularly over his controversial foreign policy.
Blair defended his decision to support the United States in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, including going to war against Iraq in 2003.
In a personal speech at the Trimdon Labour Club in the north-east constituency of Sedgefield he has represented since 1983, Blair said Britain had changed for the better since he took over as premier in 1997.
But there were difficult decisions along the way, particularly when there was widespread opposition, leading to his fiercely-held conviction to be misinterpreted as "messianic zeal", he added.
"Doubt hesitation reflection consideration reconsideration these are all the good companions of proper decision-making but the ultimate obligation is to decide," he said.
Blair said some decisions, such as the independence Labour granted to Britain's central bank, the Bank of England, to set interest rates, were accepted "quite quickly".
9/11, Saddam, global terrorism
But others were harder to make and sometimes, the "completely unexpected" led to isolation, such as his decision to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with Washington after "9/11", he told the audience of Labour supporters.
"Removing Saddam (Hussein) and his sons from power, as with removing the Taliban, was over with relative ease.
"But the blowback since from global terrorism and those elements that support it has been fierce, unrelenting and costly.
"For many it simply isn't and can't be worth it. I think we must see it through... It's a test of will and of belief and we can't fail it."
Despite what he said were the "duller tones" of reality compared to the "rainbow" hues of political vision, Blair said it had been an honour to serve as Labour leader since 1994 and prime minister since 1997.
Whatever people's perceptions of his time in office, he said: "I ask you to accept one thing, hand on heart, I did what I thought was right.
"I may have been wrong. That's your call but believe one thing if nothing else, I did what I thought was right for our country."
- AFP
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