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Blair: UK terror attack inevitable
LONDON, England -- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says he expects terror groups like al Qaeda to attempt an attack on Britain. "I believe it is inevitable that they will try in some form or other," Blair told a committee of MPs on Tuesday. "I think we can see evidence from the recent arrests that the terrorist network is here as it is around the rest of Europe, around the rest of the world." Police searching a London mosque that was raided on Monday in Britain's biggest anti-terror operation since September 11, found tear gas and a stun gun. Seven men were arrested during the raid, which was part of a wider probe into the discovery of the lethal poison ricin at a flat in the capital. (Full story) Blair predicted the public would eventually back a war against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq if other means of disarming him failed. He said he understood people's concerns but said if he did have to order military action, the public would find it "acceptable and satisfactory because there is no other route available to us." Blair said the policy of containing Saddam had worked only "up to a point and was beginning to fracture very badly. Asked about any link between al Qaeda and Iraq, he said: "I think it's important we do everything we can to show people the link between weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and these terrorist groups who are doing anything they possibly can to disrupt the lives of ordinary people. "Whenever I'm asked about the linkage between al Qaeda and Iraq, the truth is there is information I have that directly links al Qaeda to September 11. "There is some intelligence evidence about loose linkage between al Qaeda and various people in Iraq. "But I think the justification for what we are doing in respect of Iraq has got to be made separately from any potential link with al Qaeda. "In my view, the case that we make for disarming Iraq of WMD has got to be made on its own terms. I totally understand why public opinion is sceptical about Iraq." The prime minister was speaking during his second lengthy evidence session to the Commons Liaison Committee.
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