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Tony Blair did not say that the Invasion of Iraq created ISIS.
Interviewer: When people look at the rise of ISIS many people look at the Invasion as the principle cause. What do you say to that?
Blair: I think there were elements of truth in but we need to be careful to understand that is going on in Syria and Iraq today. Of course you cannot say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 had no responsibility for the situation in 2015, But it is important also to realize (1) The Arab Spring of 2012 would have also had it's impact on Iraq today and (two) ISIS actually come to promience from a base in Syria and not Iraq.
Basically what he is saying is that what happened happened and most likely would have happened no matter what.
Also keep in mind that while we like to believe Saddam had an iron grip on the country, the truth was this was only in the larger cities and populated areas. In other areas there was little to no government control, which seems to be common in middle eastern countries.
I don't believe ISIS had anything to do with what happened in Iraq ten or fifteen years prior. Even if we had never invaded Iraq and or overthrown Saddam, ISIS would still be ISIS and most likely would still be in the same exact position it is today.
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