Tony Blair giving evidence,

Everybody today will be blogging, writing and talking about Tony Blair giving evidence to the Iraq Inquiry – so I will keep this super short.

First I would like to fess up and come clean – seeing Tony Blair this morning I realized that I have missed him – a lot! It suddenly dawned on me that he is very stately, always in control – good under pressure and not easily flustered. I could not help comparing him with Brown – two very different men two totally different styles.

After listening to Blair speak I am now certain that he took the country to war convinced he was doing the right thing – he believed Saddam was a threat and the nature of the Iraqi regime then with the presence of WMDs made him very dangerous. I can understand his concern, that has he not removed Saddam – today we might be facing two tyrants (Iraq & Iran) competing on nuclear armament and in supporting terror and terrorism. His view that now Iran poses a similar threat is a concern shared by many today. He was also very aware that in his commitment to backing the US he was paying a big price and knew his decision was divisive within Europe, parliament and within the public – but on balance safety and security were a bigger concern for him – and going to war was a judgement call he made based on what was known to him then.

When asked was it worth it? He said “Too early to tell if democracy will take root” – and finished giving his evidence by saying “The world is a safer place without Saddam and his two sons”. Very few people will disagree with you Mr Blair.