Blair defends war decision and warns of ongoing terror threat

The international terror threat is a challenge different from anything the world has faced before, the Prime Minister has said today.

Mr Blair said in a speech in his Sedgefield constituency that the international community was in "mortal danger" of mistaking the nature of the modern world.

"This is not a time to err on the side of caution; not a time to weigh the risks to an infinite balance; not a time for the cynicism of the worldly wise who favour playing it long," he said.

He called the events of September 11th a "revelation", and said that terrorists were "plainly prepared" to bring about Armageddon, and unstable states with tyrannical leaders were still seeking to acquire WMD.

According to Mr Blair, it is clear that Al Qaida sought the capability to use WMD in their attacks. And at least two Pakistani scientists have given advice to Bin Laden on nuclear weapon design, he said.

He said that September 11th did not create the threat Saddam posed, but it crucially altered the balance of risk – whether to contain it or deal with it.

"The global threat to our security was clear," he said. "So was our duty: to act to eliminate it."

Mr Blair went on to call the decision to go to war with Iraq an "immensely difficult judgement".

"Prime Ministers don't have the luxury of maintaining both sides of the argument. They can see both sides. But, ultimately, leadership is about deciding," he said.

"And my judgement then and now is that the risk of this new global terrorism and its interaction with states or organisations or individuals proliferating WMD, is one I simply am not prepared to run."

(gmcg)