IRAN - Blair Warns Of US Isolationism.

British PM Tony Blair on March 27 said Iraq and Afghanistan were decisive battlegrounds for the values the West believes in and warned 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.

Australia and Britain both have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Australian opposition leader Kim Beazley has said a future Labour government would withdraw Australian troops as soon as possible. Blair, America's closest ally in Iraq, acknowledged that the war had divided both Australia and Britain, but portrayed Iraq and Afghanistan as critical battlegrounds, saying: "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. 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". Blair received a standing ovation.

In his introductory speech, Australian PM John Howard paid tribute to "the strength of...Blair's conviction to the fight against terrorism". Beazley noted that he took a different position from Blair on Iraq; but, he said, "that doesn't diminish our regard for your leadership".

Blair said that, while the battle over values was most fierce in Iraq and Afghanistan, Western states had to get involved elsewhere and on a range of other issues, adding: "Wherever people live in fear, with no prospect of advance, we should be on their side...whether in Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burma, North Korea". He called for an "active foreign policy of engagement" by a strong alliance, including the US. Calling the anti-US feeling seen in parts of world politics "madness", Blair said: "The danger with America today is not that they are too much involved. The danger is they decide to pull up the drawbridge and disengage. We need them involved".