however, i think that tony blair himself— however, i think that tony blair himself is— however, i think that tony blair himself is putting himself in a standing _ himself is putting himself in a standing for quite a lot of criticism _ standing for quite a lot of criticism as well, with people remembering his legacy with this whole _ remembering his legacy with this whole ordeal.— remembering his legacy with this whole ordeal. . , , v , whole ordeal. sebastien, picking up with what joanna _ whole ordeal. sebastien, picking up with what joanna was _ whole ordeal. sebastien, picking up with what joanna was saying, - whole ordeal. sebastien, picking up with what joanna was saying, tony l with whatjoanna was saying, tony blair has learnt the hard way as it were to be judicious with his comments on matters relating to the fight against islamist terrorism, because of course the controversy over whether the iraq war was started for the wrong reason and the rest of it. given the political consensus about going on back then, does he have a bit more credibility on this in terms of political voic

blair — the claims that have been made by tony blair. interesting to note the downing _ tony blair. interesting to note the downing street sources in the last 24 hours _ downing street sources in the last 24 hours have said that contrary to the scathing attack that tony blair has launched on president biden and what he _ has launched on president biden and what he called an imbecilic commitment to ending for ever worse, downing _ commitment to ending for ever worse, downing street on the other hand have stressed that the prime minister— have stressed that the prime minister supports the us and isn't criticising — minister supports the us and isn't criticising the us, and that coordination is very important. and has also _ coordination is very important. and has also been saying that that relationship between president biden and prime _ relationship between president biden and prime minister borisjohnson is and prime minister borisjohnson is a good _ and prime minister borisjohnson is a good one — and prime minister borisjohnson is

tony blair himself has _ western interests. tony blair himself has come _ western interests. tony blair himself has come under- western interests. tony blair- himself has come under criticism for his role in afghanistan. the himself has come under criticism for his role in afghanistan.— his role in afghanistan. the world understands _ his role in afghanistan. the world understands that _ his role in afghanistan. the world understands that whilst _ his role in afghanistan. the world understands that whilst of - understands that whilst of course there are dangers in acting, the dangers of inaction are far greater. now, does he have any regrets, and what would he say to families who lost loved ones? we what would he say to families who lost loved ones?— what would he say to families who lost loved ones? we went in there for very good _ lost loved ones? we went in there for very good reasons _ lost loved ones? we went in there for very good reasons and - lost loved ones? we went in there for very good reasons and we - for very good reasons and we achieved a lot thanks to thos

tony blair is wauain shyama and martin. tony blair is waging against — shyama and martin. tony blair is waging against the _ shyama and martin. tony blair is waging against the dying - shyama and martin. tony blair is waging against the dying of - shyama and martin. tony blair is waging against the dying of the l waging against the dying of the light and what he clearly sees in the document as the abandonment of democracy as at the least worst governing solution. he obviously has perfect material here. it is a little bit late, but what he is raging against is our loss of confidence in western values, our inability to commit to anything, which i think it's something we have seen across the us with a try. and now, of course, with our own dishevelled government in number ten. —— number10. it seems to regard the bringing of democracy as a utopian delusion and intervention, virtual of any sort, as a full set in. the world is now uncertain of where the west stands because it is so obvious that the decision to withdraw from afghanistan in this way was not driven by grand stra

by tony blair, it has been pretty mixed. some supportive but some also criticising him for— supportive but some also criticising him for his— supportive but some also criticising him for his own role in afghanistan as well, _ him for his own role in afghanistan as well, given that it was him that led the _ as well, given that it was him that led the uk — as well, given that it was him that led the uk into afghanistan in 2001 alongside _ led the uk into afghanistan in 2001 alongside the us. we have had people on the _ alongside the us. we have had people on the left _ alongside the us. we have had people on the left of the party, particularly people like john mcdonald, quite critical of tony blair— mcdonald, quite critical of tony blair himself, saying that he had some _ blair himself, saying that he had some front criticising president biden— some front criticising president biden when it was blair that led to the uk _ biden when it was blair that led to the uk into some of the words in the zist the uk into some of

a serious mistake says tony blair. do you agree?— a serious mistake says tony blair. do you agree? yes. tony blair has more foreign _ do you agree? yes. tony blair has more foreign policy _ do you agree? yes. tony blair has more foreign policy experience, i more foreign policy experience, including hard knocks, thenjoe biden and hisjudgment is basically sound. and then the question is one, what is moral, what has been done to the allies of the united states that we are abandoning in afghanistan? can we extract over 10,000 americans? they are stuck there. the military, the security forces, the contractors, the family members, all these people, but also our allies and our afghan collaborators. beyond that, what did this due to the perception of the united states as a reliable ally? from taiwan to estonia, from poland to japan. and thatis estonia, from poland to japan. and that is what we need to focus on after we tried to minimise the disaster. the pr disaster, the humanitarian disaster that this hasty decision presents to us now. it is still ongoing and it can go south. ~ ., ., ,, i

the former british prime minister, tony blair, has said president biden�*s policy — which led to the withdrawal of troops from afghanistan — was "imbecilic". he says the decision to leave represents a tragic, dangerous and unnecessary abandonment of the country. mr blair, who sent british troops into afghanistan two decades ago, has urged the government to help all afghans who supported the uk, calling it a "moral obligation". 0ur political correspondent, chris mason, reports. he's the former prime minister most often remembered for the controversies that swirled around the conflict in iraq, but before the war there came this moment in 2001 when he committed his troops to afghanistan shortly after the september 11 attacks. military action against targets inside afghanistan has begun. i can confirm that uk forces are engaged in this action. the world understands that whilst of course there are dangers in acting, the dangers of inaction are far, far greater. 20 years on, his critique of president biden�*s decision to pull out is unflinching. he writes... a phrase the president has

former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal — former british pm tony blair accuses president biden of following an �*imbecilic�* policy — and donald trump attacks mr biden. biden�*s botched exit in afghanistan is the most astonishing display of gross incompetence by a nation's leader perhaps at any time that anybody�*s ever seen. leader perhaps at any time as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is preapring for many refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the expected arrival of hurricane henri. and cambodia's last remaining population of critically—endangered vultures are on the brink of extinction. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the uk ministry of defence says seven people have died in the chaotic crowds outside kabul airport where thousands are trying to flee the afghanistan, a week after the taliban took over. people have been trying to get through checkpoints in sweltering heat to reach evacuation flights. the british defence secretary, ben wallace, said the uk had flown

former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal — former british pm tony blair accuses president biden of following an �*imbecilic�* policy — and donald trump attacks mr biden. biden�*s botched exit in afghanistan is the most astonishing display of gross incompetence by a nation's leader perhaps at any time that anyone�*s ever seen. as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is preparing for thousands of new refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. and cambodia's last remaining population of critically—endangered vultures are on the brink of extinction. hello, and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. the uk ministry of defence says seven people have died in the chaotic crowds outside kabul airport where thousands are trying to flee the afghanistan, a week after the taliban took over. people have been trying to get through checkpoints in sweltering heat to reach evacuation flights. the british defence secretary, ben wallace, said the uk had flown out more than a

ever since 1999, tony blair, one - going to university? ever since 1999, tony blair, one of- going to university? ever since 1999, tony blair, one of the i going to university? ever since - 1999, tony blair, one of the scrape policies and they want as many students and as possible and here we are now and the great debt that is incurred by people who are coming out and getting jobs that pay sufficient and justifying the time in study and also they have to come up in study and also they have to come up with this alternative degree apprenticeships that involve studying and this is something they are opposing as it's something that they're hoping to push as many people in that direction as possible. people in that direction as possible-— people in that direction as rossible. ., ., ., ., possible. you are nodding your head a lot, so possible. you are nodding your head a lot. so you — possible. you are nodding your head a lot, so you have _ possible. you are nodding your head a lot, so you have something - possible. you are nodding your head

tony blair says that afghanistan is being abandoned. it is tragic, dangerous and unnecessary, imbecilic to walk away. many people, as a result of what has happened in afghanistan are going to have a deep doubt as to whether we can be relied upon and the trouble with this decision is that our friends are now anxious and those people opposed to us feel heartened by it and that is not a good place to be. it is a conflict that cost the lives of a57 uk servicemen and women. thousands more were injured. as veterans ask themselves, if it was all worthwhile, the man who first sent them to afghanistan says yes. the fact is, the country did have a chance and it was really our own internal short—term politics in the west that has driven, in the last couple of years, us to put at risk what we gained and i think it is only now that we are realising, in this moment of crisis, exactly how much we gained and how foolish it is to lose it. it is managing that crisis here at kabul�*s airport that remains the focus for british soldiers and the governme

minister, tony blair — who sent troops into afghanistan 20 years ago — has described the us withdrawal as "tragic, i. "dangerous and unnecessary. mr blair said the decision to end what us presidentjoe biden has called "forever wars" was wrong, calling the slogan "imbecilic". i was prime minister at the time of september the 11th. i took the decision that we should support america and the nations from all round the world in removing the taliban from government there because they were sheltering al-qaeda, who were responsible for the 9/11 attack and were not prepared to yield them up. we've had 20 years of yes, immense difficulty, but also real progress and i think the problem was that, in the end, with these situations, you've got to be prepared to commit for the long term and i know how difficult it is to do that. but the truth is, when we came to the end of 2019, we were in a situation where troop levels were significantly down — america had a few thousand troops, nato had something like 8,000 troops. the country could have been helped through the next phase of its progress, but the

former prime minister, tony blair calls it "unnecessary and tragic". the west has to understand that when we do something like this, the signal it sends out is one of inconstancy. it's one that says, "look, if the going gets tough, we're out." a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state, as tropical storm henri is expected to make landfall in the coming hours. covid antibody tests are to be widely offered to uk adults for the first time — to try to find out how much natural protection people have after contracting covid—19. and don everly, who formed the everly brothers duo with his late brother phil, has died at the age of 8a. good afternoon, and welcome to bbc news. president biden will meet virtually with g7 leaders on tuesday to discuss "continuing close coordination on afghanistan policy and the evacuation of citizens". the meeting was convened by borisjohnson, who has called on the international community to work together to prevent a humanitarian crisis. nato officials say — over the past week — at least 20 people have di

blair spoke about imbecilic, but it was tony blair who, 22 years ago, made that great speech saying the west should intervene and change regimes and government, bring goodness to the world. this was a new form of imperialism not all that removed from what alfred milner said more than a century ago. but this is what the west is now paying for, going into countries and not understanding what is there, and trying to change them. what's happened in afghanistan? a corrupt regime where the army and everything else, the president leaves and flies away with a pot of gold, things like that. and basically, we have created this mess. and instead ofjust bringing our hands, we should admit the mess we've created, and that goes back to several politicians, notjust what biden is doing at the moment. the seech to biden is doing at the moment. the speech to which he is referring to the game known as the chicago doctrine, because it was delivered in chicago. anyone who wants to find that can find the text and indeed the video of tony blair speaking. it's interesting, this is a role that boris johnson

blair calling it unnecessary and tragic. the west has to understand that when we do something like this, the signal it sends out is one of inconstancy. it's one that says, look, if the going gets tough, we're out. as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is preparing for a potential new wave of refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. and don everly, one half of the everly brothers duo with his late brother phil, has died at the age of 8a. now on bbc news, another chance to enjoy rajan datar�*s epic rail journey across the southern united states in the travel show. this is the mighty mississippi. the economic backbone of early america, running north to south for more than 2000 miles, carrying the people and cargo that helped to turn this country from a fledgling upstart into a powerhouse. for much of the 19th century, steamboats like this ruled the river. but in 1879, construction began on a transcontinental train line, that wou

former british prime minister tony blair accuses president biden of following an imbecilic policy. the west has to understand that when you do something like this, the signal it sends out is one of inconstancy. it's one that says, look, when the going gets tough, we're out. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri and don everly, one half of the everly brothers duo with his late brother phil, has died at the age of 8a. now on bbc news, click gets rare access into nasa hq to take a look at the research and engineering that is going to make space exploration possible. this week, another chance to see our race to space, where we hit the road, built a house and, shh... whispers: ..locked up some astronauts. jump on in. thank you. so you're not using the steering wheel at all? you're using a... oh, wow! laughter. which way are we going? which way are we going! i'm at nasa in houston where lucienjunkin is taking me for a spin. using both a steering wheel and a joystick, you can point this vehicle in one direction and dri

the sunday telegraph's front page story looks at criticism from former prime minister tony blair, who sent british troops into afghanistan 20 years ago. he says the uk has a "moral obligation" to stay until everyone who needs to leave the country has been evacuated. the mirror also features those comments from mr blair, who added president biden�*s withdrawal from the country was "imbecilic". meanwhile, the sunday express features comments from the armed forces minister, who says british veterans who served in afghanistan should be proud of what they accomplished, despite the collapse of the afghan government. let's start on the mirror. it is quoting an article from the telegraph but it is one that is unsurprising how many of the papers have chosen to go with it, given that this is tony blair who is not known for his criticism of american governments. laying it on thick, if not by name president biden. mr blair not by name president biden. m blair has written an article where he strongly attacked the withdrawal of allied troops from afghanistan, but particularly laying the blame at

the former britiah prime minister tony blair has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan. state of emergency have been declared in new york state a head the arrival of hurricane henri. don't go to kabul airport — that's what americans hoping to leave afghanistan are being told unless they're instructed to do so. the state department said it wanted to avoid creating large crowds and us defense officials have expressed concern about the possibility of attacks by islamic state militants. a week after the taliban seized power, their co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in the capital for talks on forming a new government. our security correspondent, frank gardner, reports. crowds, chaos, confusion: the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volatile as thousands of afghans clamour to leave the country. gunfire. taliban fighters are guarding the outside of the perimeter, but even some people with valid travel documents are not getting through. translation: we've got a legal visa. many people who are coming here don't have the right documents, but w

tony blair says that afghanistan is being abandoned. it is tragic, dangerous and unnecessary, imbecilic to walk away. many people, as a result of what has happened in afghanistan are going to have a deep doubt as to whether we can be relied upon and the trouble with this decision is that our friends are now anxious and those people opposed to us feel heartened by it and that is not a good place to be. it is a conflict that cost the lives of a57 uk servicemen and women. thousands more were injured. as veterans ask themselves, if it was all worthwhile, the man who first sent them to afghanistan says yes. the fact is, the country did have a chance and it was really our own internal short—term politics in the west that has driven, in the last couple of years, us to put at risk what we gained and i think it is only now that we are realising, in this moment of crisis, exactly how much we gained and how foolish it is to lose it. it is managing that crisis here at kabul�*s airport that remains the focus for british soldiers and the governme

a strategy that was initiated, in fact, when tony blair was prime minister. that strategy involved, after ousting the taliban in 2001, in partnership with the northern alliance, it then entailed creating, moving to create and afghanistan, a highly centralised state in a country that is geographically and ethnically very diverse, concentrating all power in kabul, and in kabul, all power with the president, who can only represent one of the multiple ethnic groups. and the other part of the strategy was a counterinsurgency. and a counterinsurgency involves having to have a local partner, as architects will tell you, and the trouble was there was no partner. the government in kabul was corrupt, ineffective and illegitimate. but peter, hindsight is 20/20 and president biden says he does not want to hand this war over to another american president. what could they have done? do you suggest that us troops stay there indefinitely? no, my point is the opposite. that the strategy failed. what can you say about a conflict where you spent several trillion dollars, in the

former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal, with former british prime minister tony blair accusing president biden of following an imbecilic policy. as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is bracing for a potential new wave of refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. now it's time for dateline london. hello, and welcome to the programme that brings together leading commentators in the uk with the correspondents who write, broadcast and blog for audiences back home from the dateline: london. just one topic for us this week — how 20 years of commitment to afghanistan dissolved in a matter of days and what the consequences may be for the people of afghanistan, its neighbours and the rest of the world. joining us are janet daley, columnist with the sunday telegraph; michael goldfarb, host of the podcast, the first rough draft of history, and with me in the studio, the guardian's china editor, vincent ni. welcome to all of you. it's good to have you with us. janet, let's begin with what t

member tony blair all those _ educational. member tony blair all those years ago? all about education. mandela used to talk about— education. mandela used to talk about no— education. mandela used to talk about no matter what your background is, it is _ about no matter what your background is, it is the _ about no matter what your background is, it is the duty of the state and others _ is, it is the duty of the state and others to— is, it is the duty of the state and others to give you a good education. on that— others to give you a good education. on that i_ others to give you a good education. on that i completely agree, henry! thank you. it's so nice to get agreement, isn't it? eunice stubbs has died at the age of 84, there she is on the front of a lot of newspapers. i talked about margate us, the creator of the bbc�*s sherlock series, saying she was as delightful in person as you'd hope from how she appeared on screen —— mark gettys. a brief tribute from you both? i mark gettys. a brief tribute from ou both? . you both? i never met eunice stubbs,

the former britiah prime minister, tony blair, has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan. the greek government builds a a0 kilometre fence on its border with turkey over concerns there'll be a surge in afghans seeking asylum. and a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. don't go to kabul airport. that's what americans hoping to leave afghanistan have been advised — unless instructed to do so. the state department said it wanted to avoid creating large crowds — and us defence officials have expressed concern about the possibility of attacks by islamic state militants. a week after the taliban seized power, their co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in the capital for talks on forming a new government. our security correspondent, frank gardner reports. crowds, chaos, confusion. the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volatile as thousands of afghans clamour to leave the country. gunfire. taliban fighters are guarding the outside of the perimeter, but even some people with

former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal — former british pm tony blair accuses president biden of following an "imbecilic" policy, and donald trump attacks mr biden. biden�*s botched exit in afghanistan is the most astonishing display of gross incompetence by a nation's leader perhaps at any time that anybody�*s ever seen. as thousands of afghans try to escape the taliban, europe is bracing for a potential new wave of refugees. a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. and cambodia's last remaining population of critically—endangered vultures are on the brink of extinction. now on bbc news, three engineers leading the field in clean energy solutions come together for a special event presented by kevin fong at the victoria and albert museum, london. hello, i'm kevin fong, and welcome to the engineers: clean energy. we are here at the victoria and albert museum in london with a socially—distanced public audience, a virtual audience from around the globe, and three of the world's leading engineers. now, th

the former british prime minister tony blair has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan. in other news, a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. hello and welcome. don't go to kabul airport. that's what americans hoping to leave afghanistan are being told, unless they're instructed to do so. the state department said it wanted to avoid creating large crowds and us defense officials have expressed concern about the possibility of attacks by islamic state militants. a week after the taliban seized power, their co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in the capital for talks on forming a new government. our security correspondent, frank gardner, reports. crowds, chaos, confusion: the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volatile as thousands of afghans clamour to leave the country. gunfire. taliban fighters are guarding the outside of the perimeter, but even some people with valid travel documents are not getting through. translation: we've got a legal visa. - many people who are

blair who led the uk forces _ chris, it was tony blair who led the uk forces into afghanistan in 20 —— 2001— uk forces into afghanistan in 20 —— 2001 alongside the us. today is focused — 2001 alongside the us. today is focused largely on those comments and his— focused largely on those comments and his damning attack of that political— and his damning attack of that political slogan to enter the" political _ political slogan to enter the" political wars" political slogan to enter the" politicalwars" —— political slogan to enter the" political wars" —— forever was. compared _ political wars" —— forever was. compared to what it was like 20 years _ compared to what it was like 20 years ago. — compared to what it was like 20 years ago, he has also criticised the fact— years ago, he has also criticised the fact that he has made this claim that every— the fact that he has made this claim that everyjihadist group around the world _ that everyjihadist group around the world would have been cheering at this withdrawal and saying that if we were — this with

the former britiah prime minister tony blair has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan.

iraq was started by tony blair — afghanistan was finished budget borisjohnson. is there a difference between someone who starts intervention and someone who starts intervention and someone who finishes it? it’s someone who finishes it? it's different because politicians of every — different because politicians of every political persuasion have all tried their— every political persuasion have all tried their best over the last 20 years— tried their best over the last 20 years to — tried their best over the last 20 years to make this work, and itjust hasn't _ years to make this work, and itjust hasn't that — years to make this work, and itjust hasn't. that doesn't absolve anybody from responsibility, of course, but ifthis_ from responsibility, of course, but ifthis was— from responsibility, of course, but ifthis was a— from responsibility, of course, but if this was a simple problem to solve, — if this was a simple problem to solve, it— if this was a simple problem to solve, it would've been done. it's solve, it would've been done. it's so inc

the former british prime minister tony blair has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan. in other news, a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri.

blair described the us decision to withdraw from the country as "imbecilic". the guardian reports that the taliban have criticised the us for what it described as "anarchy" at kabul airport, suggesting that its own fighters were the only ones capable of retsoring order. meanwhile the metro focuses on the story of a british paratrooper who was filmed helping a baby and her mother over a wall at kabul airport to safety. so let's begin. kick us off this time, the guardian says number ten plead to biden after taliban show of strength.— taliban show of strength. yeah, i mean, basically, _ taliban show of strength. yeah, i mean, basically, what _ taliban show of strength. yeah, i mean, basically, what we - taliban show of strength. yeah, i mean, basically, what we are - taliban show of strength. yeah, i i mean, basically, what we are seeing at the moment is the us calling all the shots, and britain and other countries like france are really trying to almost begged the us to stay longer in afghanistan rather than hastily retreat before we managed to put out all our

the former britiah prime minister, tony blair, has launched a scathing attack on the us decision to pull out of afghanistan. the greek government builds a a0 kilometre fence on its border with turkey over concerns there'll be a surge in afghans seeking asylum. and a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri.

blair, said the uk stood shoulder to shoulder with the americans. now that the military operation is over, and the taliban once again in charge of the country, it is up to the diplomats to work out how best to work with people who until very recently considered implacable enemies. tonight, downing street has confirmed a uk government representative has met senior taliban leaders in doha to discuss safe passage for british nationals and afghans who've worked with the uk. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale reports. for 20 years, the relationship between the west and afghanistan has been shaped by military force. but those boots are no longer on the ground, so how now might the world engage with the taliban from outside? well, it certainly requires a new kind of diplomacy. western powers want the taliban to ensure afghans can leave if they want. they say the rights of women and children should be protected. i shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. and that's what they called for last night but the united nations works better when, well

i the prime minister who sent british troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, tony blair, says the uk has a "moral obligation" to stay until "all those who need to be are evacuated". our political correspondent, chris mason, is here. what more did he say? a former prime minister often — what more did he say? a former prime minister often associated _ what more did he say? a former prime minister often associated with - minister often associated with controversy around the iraq conflict making his first public intervention in afghanistan since the fall of kabul, he says it's tragic and unnecessary and dangerous what is happening and he says there is a moral obligation for the uk to stay as long as necessary to get everyone out to has a right to come to the uk because they work with british forces that he is making a bigger argument, he says in this article that has gone up on his website that this is a fight against radical islam, a political ideology that perverts the religion and the taliban are symptomatic of that and he says the west has to show commitment and if that is a long—ter

britain's former prime minister, tony blair, who sent troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, says the uk has a moral obligation to stay until those who wish to leave — have escaped. the greek government builds a a0 kilometre fence on its border with turkey over concerns there'll be a surge in afghans seeking asylum. and a state of emergency is declared in parts

former prime minister tony blair, who sent troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, describes the us decision to withdraw as "tragic, dangerous and unnecessary." in other news — covid antibody tests are offered

as former world leaders criticise the us withdrawal from afghanistan — former prime minister, tony blair calls it "unnecessary and tragic". the west has to understand that when we do something like this, the signal it sends out is one of inconstancy. it's one that says, "look, if the going gets tough, we're out."

here, the former labour prime minister, tony blair, who sent troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, has described the us withdrawal as "tragic, dangerous and unnecessary." mr blair said the decision to end what us president biden has called "forever wars" was wrong. here's our political correspondent chris mason. he's the former prime minister most often remembered for the war in iraq. before that came this moment in 2001, shortly after the september 11th attacks. military action against targets inside afghanistan has begun. i can confirm that uk forces are engaged in this action. two decades on, chaos, desperation. let's hear what president biden has to say now in the roosevelt room of the white house.— the white house. after a series of meetin . s the white house. after a series of meetings throughout _ the white house. after a series of meetings throughout the - the white house. after a series of| meetings throughout the weekend the white house. after a series of- meetings throughout the weekend with my national security team, i want to update the american people on our ongoing ope

britain's former prime minister, tony blair, who sent troops into afghanistan 20 years ago, says the uk has a moral obligation to stay until those who wish to leave — have escaped. the greek government builds a a0 kilometre fence on its border with turkey over concerns there'll be a surge in afghans seeking asylum. and a state of emergency is declared in parts of new york state ahead of the forecast arrival of hurricane henri. hello and welcome to the programme. "don't go to kabul airport." that's what americans hoping to leave afghanistan have been advised — unless instructed to do so. the state department said it wanted to avoid creating large crowds — and us defence officials have expressed concern about the possibility of attacks by islamic state militants. a week after the taliban seized power, their co—founder, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is in the capital for talks on forming a new government. our security correspondent, frank gardner reports. crowds, chaos, confusion. the scene at kabul airport grows ever more volatile as thousands of afghans clamour to leave the coun

it 3 the failure of a strategy and policy first by tony blair on the back of donald ron fell. the achievements of the new generation are going to have to be... when taliban were last there, there was no mobile phone network. now it is pervasive if it continues and it has brought with it a new awareness, new connectivity and above all, a new literacy. that is the upside but this week, i think what we will get is a coming to terms with a failed strategy, where do we go from here? the implications are ominous for britain but there is this immediate prospect of getting those that you need to be got out and how you do it, are the arrangements really in place? and what you do about people who are staying on there? find what you do about people who are staying on there?— what you do about people who are staying on there? and when you talk about that new _ staying on there? and when you talk about that new awareness, - about that new awareness, connectivity and literacy among the afghan people, how much do you think has changed their in terms of people actually being prepared to ac

blair said we were shoulder to shoulder with america. now that the military mission is over and the taliban is in charge it is up to the diplomats to work out how they deal with those who were sworn enemies just weeks ago. 0ur diplomatic affairs correspondent, james landale, has been looking at the options. 20 years, the relationship between the west and afghanistan has been shaped by military force. but those boots are no longer on the ground, so how now might the world engage with the taliban from outside? well, it certainly requires a new kind of diplomacy. western powers want the taliban to ensure afghans can leave if they want. they say the rights of women and children should be protected. i women and children should be protected-— women and children should be rotected. , ., , ., protected. i should put the draft resolution to _ protected. i should put the draft resolution to the _ protected. i should put the draft resolution to the vote _ protected. i should put the draft resolution to the vote now. - protected. i should put the

i said to tony blair, who is going to be the replacement for the taliban? tony blair replied to my letter and he said we are not going to abandon you. but this is what has happened after 20 years. i'm not a fan of foreign troops in afghanistan but once you have gone into afghanistan you should have finished the job and brought a political settlement to the conflict in afghanistan, the longest conflict in europe and america, and have an achievement in afghanistan rather than giving the keys to the power in afghanistan to the taliban. i'm asking now for people to sue the british government, who send their kids back to afghanistan, for abandoning the people of afghanistan, because this is really shambolic and there should be an inquiry. we know what went wrong. they were only there to empower their friends, the warlords and the drug lords, the remnants of the former holy warriors, as they were called, but they should be an inquiry, and an apology for the people of afghanistan. for why you have done this to us. you people of afghanistan. for why you have done t

with me now is jack straw, the former labour foreign secretary under tony blair, from 2001 to 2006. welcome. as foreign secretary you are the first minister from a foreign government to go into kabul after the fall of the taliban. if you are in government now what would you are in government now what would you be doing? i you are in government now what would you be doing?— you be doing? i think there are very limited options _ you be doing? i think there are very limited options for _ you be doing? i think there are very limited options for the _ you be doing? i think there are very limited options for the british i limited options for the british government right now and ben wallace, the defence secretary i think has spelt those out that it is frankly not practical for the british to try to hold the airport without support of the us. we have got 1000 troops which is the second largest contingent at the airport for the us has got 5000 troops and they have also got surveillance and other crucial support which we don't have. you could get it in but i think it is fanciful to think th

blair. i would like to ask very quickly the first question. where would you put the security threat at the moment and there is security within afghanistan and the region? i think a security threat _ afghanistan and the region? i think a security threat in _ afghanistan and the region? i think a security threat in afghanistan - afghanistan and the region? i think a security threat in afghanistan is l a security threat in afghanistan is significantly worse now with the taliban taking control. we have all heard the reassuring noises from the very practised taliban spokesman but what really matters is what's going on out of the public eye in the regions, in the rural areas, where zealots will be moving into positions of power and influence and i worry that as soon as the is afghanistan, we will begin to hear the same sort of reports of atrocities and killings as we heard in the past. let's see and let's hope for the best.— in the past. let's see and let's hope for the best. in the past. let's

blair visited washington after the 9/11 attacks. in the months to come, he'd provide uk support for america's invasions of iraq and afghanistan. 20 years on, he's had this to say. many people, as a result - of what happened in afghanistan, are going to have a deep doubt - as to whether we can be relied upon. and that is not a good thing. and mr blair's fierce criticism of mr biden's withdrawal also raises a question about whether the uk can rely on the us. but when the uk foreign secretary, dominic raab, was asked today if the us refusal to extend that deadline meant the special relationship was over, he replied... and if that's the uk perspective, this is us state department spokesperson ned price last week. we certainly have an extraordinary partner in the british government. to back that up, mr price added... what i can say is that our coordination with the british government, with all of our nato allies, has been consistent, it has been clear, and there has been a consensus on this. but only if consensus is the us deciding a pol

blair. jack straw, good morning. i don't know how much of that interview with jack cummings you could hear. i heard a lot of it. do you think it was worth it?— heard a lot of it. do you think it was worth it? , ., ., was worth it? yes i do, and let me sa to was worth it? yes i do, and let me say to mr — was worth it? yes i do, and let me say to mr cummings, _ was worth it? yes i do, and let me say to mr cummings, i _ was worth it? yes i do, and let me say to mr cummings, i entirely - say to mr cummings, i entirely understand how he feels and how i would feel if i had lost my legs in a situation like that. i would probably be feeling what he feels. i am not in any doubt at all that going into afghanistan was entirely the right thing to do in the circumstances. it is worth recapping, there had been at 9/11, over 3000 people killed directly as a result of the al-qaeda bombers. they could have taken out the white house and were close to doing that. this was a threat not only against america

in the 90s at the break—up of yugoslavia, tony blair's speech in 1999 and a responsibility to protect and the idea that we were going to go around the world making everybody, look after people and so on and so forth. we are coming to the end. what we are watching now is the end. what we are watching now is the and of i think 30 years of western strategic policy which is gone completely wrong. far too much wishful thinking, lacking in leadership. i think us foreign policy and the execution of it having lived through baghdad in 2003 and been involved in the balkans, this is a really important time. i am just depressed, set up, irritated, angry that we are watching western values being pushed back for the plato, g7, not being able to talk to the taliban. that is in absolutely _ able to talk to the taliban. that is in absolutely damning _ able to talk to the taliban. that is in absolutely damning verdict on i in absolutely damning verdict on notches recent events but obviously the last few decades. you mentioned the last few decades. you mentioned the g7. borisjohnson saying he wants assu

for which tony blair and george bush were responsible. so i don't think anyone has been very keen... it is how you extricate yourself from where you already are because the problems in afghanistan and the presence in afghanistan goes back a lot earlier. but in any event, my final comment, if you will allow me, is afghanistan must never be combined with iraq. the reason for going to iraq was unjustifiable. in afghanistan, it was entirely justifiable. the biggest terrorist attack the world had ever known, the 9/11 bombings, 7000 people killed. but we are back to square one. we are back to square one with the taliban in control 20 years later as they were 20 years ago. no, we are not. forgive me, first of all, we have never seen the repeat because of the invasion of afghanistan and the elimination of the taliban 20 years ago, that effectively destroyed al-qaeda as an organisation capable of launching anything on the scale of 911. and we have not seen anything remotely like that for the last 20 years. so the concern is now that the taliban ar

the formerl leader of the labour party and prime minister tony blair has spoken strongly and said the decision to come out of afghanistan from america was imbecilic. come out of afghanistan from america was imbecilic— was imbecilic. would you go that far? the decision _ was imbecilic. would you go that far? the decision to _ was imbecilic. would you go that far? the decision to withdraw i was imbecilic. would you go that far? the decision to withdraw is l far? the decision to withdraw is from the united states and nobody can say we were not warned and we have had two successive presidents who made clear they would end involvement in afghanistan after 20 years and thousands of lives lost. while the us deserves criticism for the decision to withdraw quickly with a hard deadline, which signalled to the taliban it was simply a waiting game and if they held tight, the us would be gone and they knew when they would be gone and i suspect that is why we saw a rapid advance. there have been mistakes made in terms of afghanistan including the past 18 months when the government has not put pla