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Blair wanted to resign before Iraq War: Book |
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10:58, July 09, 2007 |
Tony Blair had decided to resign as British prime minister in the months running up to the Iraq War, one of his closest former aides said in his diaries, which are set to be published today.
Going to war was the "most difficult decision" of Blair's life, his former media director Alastair Campbell told BBC television yesterday - a day before his diaries, "The Blair Years," were to be published.
The book also tells of how US President George W. Bush joked about his reputation as a "crazed unilateralist" as international tensions escalated over plans to invade Iraq.
"I was alongside Tony as he made what was clearly the most difficult decision of his life and of his career," Campbell told BBC's Sunday AM program.
In July 2002, Blair's commitment to support Bush over Iraq was apparent, despite the widespread concerns of the public - and British officials - that the White House was rushing to war on thin evidence and without sufficient planning.
Blair decided then that he would step down before the next election in 2005 because his public trust ratings had fallen sharply, Campbell wrote. Blair had decided to announce his plans at a Labour Party's conference in September 2002, his former spokesman said.
"He said 'In truth I've never really wanted to do more than two full terms,"' Campbell wrote.
Campbell told the Sunday Times he warned Blair that he risked becoming a "lame duck" premier at a crucial time. The plan was abandoned as Blair became increasingly involved in pressing matters.
"What you get as the book goes on is Tony caring less about what people say about him," Campbell was quoted as telling The Sunday Times.
The book also recounts pre-invasion talks at Camp David in September 2002 where Bush agreed to Blair's plan go back to the United Nations over Iraq.
"As we left, Bush joked to me 'I suppose you can tell the story of how Tony flew in and pulled the crazed unilateralist back from the brink,"' Campbell wrote.
Source: China Daily/agencies
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