ARAB-EUROPEAN RELATIONS - Mar 26 - Blair Says US Allies Must Not Quit Iraq Now.

British PM Tony Blair says that Iraq and Afghanistan are decisive battlegrounds for the values the West believes in and warns of the risk of a US retreat into isolationism. In a speech to the Australian parliament, Blair made his case for the West to get involved in a broad range of issues, not just on the security front, in its struggle against Islamist militants. US allies Australia and Britain both have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Australian opposition leader Kim Beazley has said a future Labor government would withdraw Australian troops as soon as possible. Blair, America's closest ally in Iraq, acknowledged that the war there had divided both Australia and Britain, but portrayed Iraq and Afghanistan as critical battlegrounds. Every reactionary element is lined up to fight us. They know if they lose, a message is sent out across the Muslim world that strikes at the heart of their ideology", Blair said. We must not hesitate in the face of a battle utterly decisive as to whether the values we believe in triumph or fail ... If the going is tough -- we tough it out. This is not a time to walk away. This is a time for courage to see it through", said Blair, who received a standing ovation. Outside parliament, about 100 anti-Iraq war protesters, holding placards saying "B.liar" and "Troops out of Iraq", blew whistles and trumpets to try to disrupt the visit, but they were kept well away.