访谈录 Interview 2007-05-21&23, 布莱尔专访：首相生涯回首

But first, Tony Blair, he's been a fixture 1 on the world's stage for a decade now, serving as Britain's prime minister. He was a new generation of leader, an Oxford 2 educated lawyer at Warren school, who is also member of a rock band called The Ugly Rumors 3. He was first elected to Parliament at age 30, and became the youngest prime minister in nearly 200 years when his Labor 4 Party gained the majority in 1997 when he was 43. Blair's also taken a lot of heat for his close alliance with President Bush in the war in Iraq and he's stepping down next month. Today he arrives in Washington to meet with the president. On Tuesday, NBC's Brian Williams had an exclusive interview with the outgoing leader. Spending time with him in his private office at No.10 Downing Street and talking with him about a wide range of issues starting with Iraq.

Would you do it again if you knew it all today? WMD threat wasn't there, what was going to happen in the aftermath, no plan for follow-on strategy, would you make the same decision to go with President Bush?

I would make the same decision to remove Saddam, yes.

How Mr. Prime Minister does it not cut you to the quick in—in some deep way when you read the expression—poodle—lapdog to American presidents, especially this president and especially this war.
I’ve got..I mean I’ve got used to a very intense level of criticism over it. You see, I’ve never had any doubt since 9/11 that our place was, as I said at the time, shoulder to shoulder with America.

How would you define success when do we know, um when victory isn't there?

Yeah, it's a good question, and I can't be sure of the answer of that at the moment. All I know is what the price of defeat is.

Do you believe Prince Harry 5 should serve in Iraq and why wouldn't it be a danger to others in his unit?

Well, I know he is a very brave young man, and he's determined 6 to go. But I think in the end this is a decision for the Army and for his commanders.

What quality of the Queen, what aspect of your conversation, do you think, would surprise people if they could have an ear in those conversations in your audiences with the Monarch 7?

Probably a bit of thing, it's a bit of the humor, really.

Words, Mr. prime minister, have never failed you (Well!) and let's hope there is out of first for everything. Please give me the first paragraph of the summation 8 of ten years of Prime Minister Blair. How would you like it viewed what have people gotten wrong and what have people gotten right?

You write words and tell me.

No chance.

You know, I think about that is, I mean, I gave a speech last Thursday. You can go and read this I read it.

I saw it.

Thank you. All these questions about judgment 9 to legacy 10 and all the rest, I leave that for other people.

Part of it is tied to an American president bothers you not a bit?

Well, I believe our country should be a strong ally of America, and I've never had any problem with that, never, have any problem with it, I think it will be a very dark day for my country when we do have a problem with it, and my warning, I would say to the rest of the world, but in another sense, it's also some just as you say, I think, to Americans, is the, the biggest danger is if America disengages. If it decides to pull up the drawbridge and says to the rest of the world, 'Right you go and sort it out.' We need America engaged.

And of course you can see more of Brian's exclusive interview with Tony Blair this Sunday night on Dateline, that's at 7 Eastern 6 Central time right here in NBC.
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to cut someone to the quick: to upset someone by criticizing them