Blair tells party conference he doesn't regret war in Iraq

BOURNEMOUTH, England -- A defiant Prime Minister Tony Blair, bruised by dissent over the war in Iraq, faced down his critics Tuesday and defended the U.S.-led campaign to topple Saddam Hussein.

In an often somber address to his restless Labor Party, Blair said 6 1/2 years in office and growing unease over his policies had left him battered. But he defended his government's record, said it was ready for a historic third term in office and insisted his forthright leadership was best for Britain.

"It's the only leadership I can offer. And it's the only type of leadership worth having," he said.

At the end of his highly personal 50-minute address, Blair basked in a massive ovation -- deafening applause that faded long after he left the cavernous conference hall.

"That did not look to me like a party that is ready to talk about a leadership change," said Ben Bradshaw, a junior environment minister.

"He was honest, upfront and did not hide from anything, and I respect him for that," said Labor councilor Paul Harvey. "It was what the party needed to hear."

Critics remain vocal

But the speech failed to silence many critics, still incensed by the war in Iraq.

"Where was the apology about the 10,000 Iraqis that have died? Where was the regret that there is no evidence of weapons of mass destruction?" asked member Mick Moriarty.

Blair's popularity has slumped in recent opinion polls, which have charted growing disillusionment with his support for President Bush as well as his plans to reform Britain's ailing public services.

Blair devoted his speech to defending both.

"Iraq has divided the international community, it has divided the party, the country, families, friends. And I know many people are disappointed, hurt, angry. ... I ask just one thing: Attack my decision, but at least understand why I took it and why I would take the same decision again."

He said the major threat of the 21st century was "fanaticism defeating reason."

"Suppose the terrorists repeated Sept. 11, or worse. Suppose they got hold of a chemical or biological or nuclear dirty bomb; and if they could, they would. What then?" he asked.

"There was no easy choice. So whatever we each of us thought, let us agree on this. We who started the war must finish the peace."

Blair, who led the party to the first of two landslide election victories in 1997, acknowledged he had hit a "rough patch."

"I now look my age," the 50-year-old leader joked.

But he offered his party the hope of winning a third straight election -- an unprecedented achievement for Labor, which was usually the runner-up through the 20th century to the Conservatives.

He said the government would not back down on public service reform, which many members fear is pushing the party -- built on a bedrock of socialism -- too far to the right.

"The time is for renewal, not retreat," he said, as he defended unpopular plans to raise tuition fees for university students and inject private cash into the state-run National Health Service.

"I want us to go faster, further," the prime minister added. "I can only go one way. I've not got a reverse gear."

Blair's speech comes a day after Treasury chief Gordon Brown, seen by many as a rival for the premiership, gave a rousing address in which he vowed not to back down on reform, but promised to safeguard Labor traditions.

"Gordon's speech was about the party," said union delegate Mohammed Azam. "Tony's was more about saving his skin."

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On the Net:

Blair's speech, http://www.labour.org.uk/speeches/