Major backs Blair's war choice

Major backs Blair's war choice

The Arab world will be watching coalition efforts in Iraq

Tony Blair's decision to take pre-emptive action against Iraq was the "right one and entirely defensible", Tory former prime minister John Major has insisted.

But he argued that it was "very important for the perception of the rest of the world" that the coalition found Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

"They were a fundamental reason that persuaded many people to support the war," said Mr Major.

The former MP for Huntingdon, giving his assessment of the outcome of the conflict, said the biggest challenge ahead was how to bring together the Islamic world with members of the coalition.

It is entirely probable that those weapons of mass destruction are going to be found

John Major

The problem of Israel and the Palestinians, was at the "heart of disputes in the Arab world" and is going to have to be given "a very, very high priority and speedily", he said.

While there were substantial humanitarian difficulties following the war, one of the principle issues was whether Iraq would be able to form a government that will hold together.

"Winning the war was very well done, but winning the peace is still going to be a substantial job for the future," Mr Major told Radio 4's Today programme.

'Mobile laboratories'

If the weapons of mass destruction were not found "one then has to ask a few questions about the intelligence provided to the British or American governments", he said.

"They were a fundamental reason that persuaded many people to support the war. They certainly were a fundamental reason for going to war."

Mr Major said the weapons might be hidden on mobile laboratories and he believed it was "entirely probable" they will be found.

"I think it is a great pity that Saddam Hussein has not been found - I hope we will - or that we will find out what his fate was."

Suggestions that Syria is next is 'fanciful'

Mr Major said he believed America had been "genuinely concerned" about the international threat posed by Saddam's WMD because he had used them before.

"He was very close to a propulsion system for nuclear weapons and very close to having the necessary instruments to produce his own nuclear weapons," said Mr Major.

"I think the threat he [posed] was very real and the pre-emptive action that was taken although a tough decision seems to me to be the right one and seems to me to be a defensible one."

Mr Major conceded that the war had split apart Europe, the UN and in some respects, parts of the Trans-Atlantic Alliance.

Sanctity of oil

"I think as far as Europe is concerned, it is repairable. I think they we will take a great deal of active diplomacy in order to do it.

"I am not sure if it will be successfully done as speedily as many people will wish, but I think it can be done."

But Mr Major said: "I think the greatest threat will be whether or not we are able, by our subsequent post war actions, to bring together the Islamic world and the members of the coalition, that is going to be difficult.

"I think they will look very carefully at how we handle Iraq, what form of government takes over in Iraq, how the humanitarian problem is dealt with, the sanctity of Iraq oil and the sanctity of Iraq boundaries.

"Also on the war issue, what subsequently happens... in terms of the issue that is always stood at the very heart of disputes in the Arab world and the coalition countries and that is the problem of Palestine.

"They are going to have to be given a very, very high priority and speedily."

'Monstrous regime'

Mr Major dismissed suggestions that Syria is "next on the list" for military action.

"I think the concept that Syria is next on the list does seem me to be fanciful. Syria is a problem that I think can scarcely be doubted," he said.

"In many ways it is very different from Iraq. It is not at this moment run by a monster. They haven't invaded their neighbours. They haven't murdered hundreds of thousands of their fellow citizens.

"They haven't yet got weapons of mass destruction and that is why there is a problem, but I think they can be brought back into the community of nations.

"I think the way the British and American governments will approach them will be with diplomacy and perhaps if that doesn't work, with some form of trade and other sanctions.

"But I think those people calling for a war are running a long way ahead of what is desirable or needed."

Mr Major said he hoped contracts for rebuilding Iraq would be allocated on the basis of competitiveness.