tony blair served as prime minister from 1997 to 2007. this is about four hours. >> the witness today is the honorable tony blair. >> thank you very much indeed. >> i swear by all mighty god that the evidence i shall give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. >> your full name please, mr. blair. >> anthony charles lindon blair. >> you've kindly provided us with a witness statement. i haven't seen a signed copy but it doesn't matter. are you happy to confirm the truth of your statements to the inquiry? >> absolutely. >> i'll deal with some general matters first. before we do, mr. blair, thank you very much for providing the inquiry with the assistance that you have. you comment in your statement that you haven't received some papers from the cabinet office. have you yet received them? are you satisfied you got what you require? >> yes, i'm satisfied i got what i require. this is mainly a list of meetings with various media people and we've got as full a picture as we can get. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. >>

says tony blair well the important part of this of course is that at one point during tony blair of j.p. morgan's testimony to the leveson inquiry protester had to be jacked it after getting into the court and calling mr blair or war criminal who had been paid off by j.p. morgan for the iraq war mr blair said on the record that there was no truth in the allegation but you know the protesters are going to closer and closer you know these leaders have to look over their shoulder more and more especially blair who technically speaking qualifies as a war criminal for the activities in iraq certainly and his connection to j.p. morgan of course the oil blood for oil that he denied was the case that's been proven to be true the oil deals he did after leaving number ten show a clear connection blood for oil so the protesters quite accurate and of course in terms of an elected officials here's another story that max and i have been covering while we've been here over here bad debt bank should go bankrupt so in ireland they're determining whether or not to vote yes for the european fiscal tre

there are inviting president obama and he's very very close right now to tony blair blair is campaigning for him in the united states as an unofficial advisor if these policies to attack the sovereignty of russia continue to escalate in the russian government will have to respond and you could going to do ok and i suspect that the president putin will make this very clear to president obama do you think then we'll see any breakthroughs on those important issues you mentioned syria and the anti missile defense system particularly now we're seeing a bomber in build up to his presidential election. well you know there's a huge scandal in united states right now there's several but one of which is that president obama's own national security chief leaked the information about president obama's maniacal kill policy drone kill policy and cyber attacks on iran and one of the reasons that leak took place was to build up president obama as a strong defender of democracy and freedom and a tough guy for the election now this is backfiring right now because these people in the democrat and republica

on c-span2 and 3. >>> now back to this week's testimony by former british prime minister tony blair to the levson inquiry into british phone hacking. >> mr. blair the other point on the abstract from mr. mullens' diary, the lines, did you say that to murdoch, not in so many words where you're intending to communicate to mr. mullen that obviously the clear and stark message which we see at the top of the page might not have been imparted to mr. murdoch more attenuated a subtle version might have been. do you accept that or not. >> i can't remember precisely what i would have said. frankly, it wasn't an occasion as i recall where i was, out there to start banging the table. so i don't know whether it sums up what i said to him or the implication or not really. >> the end offense this encounter with mr. mullen you say my absolutely priority's to win. i know that sounds unpolice palled. i see it as my role in life. >> sounds like it. by the way, let me emphasize i don't think it's unprincipled to win. if you believe in what you're doing, you should. but, yes, you know, i don't -- this the

>> i don't think that is tony blair's you. it is certain that my view. this is again, you are relying on secondhand conversations that are reported by people who are not participants in the events. so i don't take that as a serious comment about what happened. >> were your age involved in using the media to force or attempt to force mr. blair's resignation -- this is in 2006? >> i would hope not. >> but where they involve? >> i would hope not. i've got no evidence of that. >> now, mr. blair said that he did know whether you, mr. wheeldon, mr. mcbride and mr. balls were briefing against him in the media. did you authorize your aides to brief against mr. blair? >> no. >> do you think they may have done so without your explicit approval, even with your knowledge speak with obviously did so because it was without my authorization. >> at. [inaudible] only to act with your authority, would you agree? >> no. i medically. i'm trying to explain why we change the system when i went to number 10 and why i thought it was better to have political advisors were a new

called well actually when tony blair calls you had a dead. well you know milton friedman famously said you never get it nothing like a free lunch and yet that concept of getting a free lunch is the entire concept that drive wall street the city of london now for thirty five years getting something for nothing right that's you never pay off except with more debt now suddenly that's all coming to haunt them milling frame and of course lay the groundwork for this abomination called neoliberal banking and now we're seeing the result of it so he was right in one way however in the long run he proved to be a bit of a charlatan as are all of the other neil liberal architects that brought us this current the task of face to face ever thanks so much for being on the kaiser report thank you the no i am much more coming away stay right there. you know sometimes you see a story and it seems so you think you understand it and then you glimpse something else you hear or see some other part of it and realize everything you thought you knew you don't know i'

[applause] >> with that, the protesters left the room and tony blair, the former british prime minister continued his address. the texas billionaire r. allen stanford has been sentenced to 110 years in prison for running a massive ponzi scheme that defrauded victims of around $8 billion. he was found guilty of using his bank to defraud investors by selling them phony certificates of deposit. it was the biggest known case of investment fraud since the ponzi scheme run by new york financier bernie madoff. after the sentencing thursday, two of his victims spoke out. >> he refuses to accept blame. and a lot of ways, he has shown to be sociopathic. his world is about allen stanford. it is not about all of these people who lost their savings. these were just numbers to him. >> i told him, you deserve what you get. you are a dirty rotten scoundrels. that is what he is. no remorse at all for the lives of victims all over the world. >> virginia circuit court has appointed an openly gay prosecutor to the bench just one month after state lawmakers rejected his judicial nomination. tracy thorne beg

wouldn't be perhaps fairer to say that she was close to his wife, that, in fact, she was friendly with tony blair and less well disposed to gordon brown? if i can summarize that? >> i think she was pretty friendly with all of them. i remember some strong arguments when i would be gracing the government and all the works and she would be standing up prit you vigorously for gordon brown. >> when did you sense that mrs. brooks would be disposed to sporting you and your party? approximately when? >> i can't really put a date on it. i think it was -- as i say there was growing picture of disenchantment with the government. the conservative party was, i think getting its act together. looking more like a credible government, and it was a process. he had some strong allies, as it were. i don't want to ruin his career, but i felt that he was someone who thought that labor got it wrong. thought the conservative party was getting its act together. lots of things he didn't agree with me but i always felt he was a potential ally for pointing out that some readers were moving in our direction. >> i'm sure it'

was portrayed in that great film "the queen" with helen mirren playing elizabeth responding to tony blair's criticism that she wasn't mourning enough. >> i doubt there is no one that knows the british people more than i do mr. blair nor has greater faith in their wisdom and judgment. it is my belief that they will any moment reject this mood which has been stirred up by the press in favor of a period of restrained grief and sober private mourning. that's the way we do things in this country, quietly with dignity. that's what the rest of the world has always admired us for. chris: she has been the object of ridicule, good natured as in this b.b.c. comedy. >> i'm speaking to you today from the 10th robing room where i keep many of my queenly treasures. my sonic septemberor, my balloon clown for use for children at parties, and my magic mirror for telling me who is the fairest in the land. still me! [laughter] chris: the grander story is what she truly means to britain as commentate ors are noting this weekend and last spring at the royal wedding. listen to the commentary as she emerged from t

relationship with him from all the european leaders now and you see the the french president has gone tony blair has gone in britain obama is relatively new bush was leading america the first decade of the century mrs merkel remains of the old veteran of the weather coming events. of course a very responsible in in what she's doing for the west now she is the ultimate leader of europe with no secret about this and she feels more and more for was each year when she's in power that kind of responsibility and that means that she also feels a lot of responsibility towards russia and of course even if she maybe does like fortune because of his biography nevertheless i think she will do good work with him and by the way i watch this press conference during their visit and detected some positive chester between those two leaders well let's hear more on this now from. this report from the heart of germany. growing and moscow have grown very much dependent on each other trade between the two can. this has been ruled will bounce impolitic still remains russia's main mediator in his dialogue with the west

christopher hitchens and tony blair, who can forget the evening on religions impact on the world. henry kissinger, year ago today, was on the stage. eighty-two years of age, participating in his first public debate. eloquently arguing against china owning the 21st century. just a matter of months ago, larry summers and paul taubman went head-to-head in the future of the north american

think it also points out that other prime ministers were also very friendly with the murdochs, tony blair for one. >> naomi, thank you very much. as i say, we're going to keep across the leveson inquiry through the course of the time, in which david cameron appears before it. thanks for being with us on "bbc world news." don't forget the website, bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newmans own foundation. union bank. and shell. >> at shell, we believe the world needs a broader mix of energies. thats why were supplying cleaner burning natural gas to generate electricity. and its also why, with our partner in brazil, shell is producing ethanol, a biofuel made from renewable sugar cane. >> a minute, mom! >> lets broaden the worlds energy mix. lets go. >> bbc world news was presented by kcet los angeles.

united states government right now is functioning under what you would call the blair doctrine tony blair's doctrine a responsibility to protect and to intervene and change regimes at will by the consensus of the international community this is the biggest problem our government has and this is what the military is fighting against right now our without consensus i would add really and we've been hearing a lot about regime change when it comes to syria and iran should the u.s. start training its soldiers so they're prepared for this i mean you said a lot of mistakes were no because they weren't ready for iraq and afghanistan and what happens if they go into syria same mistakes what that what that that's exactly the point i'm making that the general dempsey the joint chiefs the head of the joint chiefs of staff the chairman has opposed the military intervention. into syria and into iran precisely for this reason that one should start these kinds of interventions especially in those countries you're going past the point of simple combat you're threatening the danger of nuclear war because pre

tony blair his senior cabinet advisors and press secretaries were a constant present in my life for many years. is that a fair encapsulation of the position, mr. blair? >> if you take the whole of the relationships within government, but then you can say that about most of the senior media political people. >> did she have ready access to you and your senior cabinet effectively whenever she wanted it. >> not whenever she wanted it. but if there was an issue that concerned her, i don't know whether she would necessarily come on to me about it. but most cabinet ministers will take the call of an editor of a major newspaper. i'd be surprised if they didn't. and i don't think per se there's anything wrong in that. on certain occasions i would have. i would say back in the '60s that would have been the case or even the 50s. i don't know. i would have been surprise first-degree the editor of a major newspaper wanted to speak to a cabinet minister. >> i'm not sure it's right or wrong or another issue. something you said a few minutes ago, which chimes with this question is this, managing these

welcome to the topsy turvy kingdom where we have people like tony blair who should be arranged for war crime crimes wandering the streets free and yet someone who's done more than anybody in the last fifty years or so to advance the cause of radical publishing is under house arrest and possibly going to be even worse extradited and possibly end up in a jail in the united states i think ultimately we've got another year here again this has been going on and on for eighteen months now judy has been on house arrest i think we should just take stop for a moment as the supreme court doesn't seem to have done a tour of some of the achievements of wiki leaks we had the collateral murder which was the video released twelve people being murdered from a helicopter including two reuters journalists we had on the cable gate the diplomatic cables for one hundred fifty countries which was let's not forget credited with fueling and starting the arab spring no less now maybe i mean i just think it's possible that maybe this is one of the reasons why a son is under attack essentially as a radical publi

and i thought tony blair's evidence to you was quite powerful in he said -- i'm not quoting, but i know there was a problem but it was an enormous

and this executive was talking to tony blair, and he said, you know, you're one of the few people who runs a government who actually understands how the oil markets work, you know, isn't that a shame? is and blair supposedly said something like, well, you really wouldn't all the other politicians of the world to know, because they'd know they could do something about it. >> host: that's a brilliant quote in the book because that's what's happening right now in washington in both parties. >> guest: right. >> host: you know, both parties are trying to kind of get a handle and show that they're reacting to gasoline prices when, in effect be, they really have very little power over gasoline prices. >> guest: exactly. but this question of what are the benefits of energy independence or what does energy inagainst mean even though the way it's used in political campaigns is frustrating because it's so sort of divorced from the actual subject matter. but there's a real subject in that's important and interesting, and it's changing, and exxonmobil's position in the quest for energy inagainst i

welcome to the topsy turvy kingdom where we have people like tony blair who should be arranged for war crimes wandering the streets free and yet someone who's done more than anybody in the last fifty years or so to advance the cause of radical publishing is under house arrest and possibly going to be even worse extradited and possibly end up in a jail in the united states i think what's going on here is a much much bigger going i i'd like to think that some people have got a bit of a spine here in britain to stand up to the pressure which is clearly coming from the pentagon the americans and the military industrial complex to try and get this going to shut down i think they fear him more than anything else it's appalling the way he's been treated by britain and i'm absolutely ashamed he should be given a medal for what he's done as. well if you're watching a slightly you'll know that while under house arrest in britain julie the son has continued to film his talk show that is on this channel the next programs on air next choose if you missed any of the previous ones you can catch them

that's happening is humanity is waking up and getting past the puppet obama's and romney's and tony blair's and and cameron's and they're getting to the actual oligarchy puppet masters that are controlling the whole system so many believe that this is should not be happening and that there is even some legal concerns about this happening can you elaborate on that yeah it's called the the login act and we actually have the law written up right now if we can show that it says that and if that is that the united states without authority of the us carries on any correspondence or intercourse with a foreign government or any officer agent there of with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or to defeat the measures that the us shall be fined or imprisoned not more than three years so. that's what the majority of people seem to be saying how their lives is this is you know they think that the state department has been bought out by lobbyists foreign diplomats and corporations really who are making the decisions that affect everyone but as we saw with alex jones he

that's happening is humanity is waking up and getting past the puppet obama's and romney's and tony blair's and and cameron's and they're getting to the actual oligarchy puppet masters that are controlling the whole system ok so there are a lot of people say that what goes down is illegal can you elaborate on that surely as in something called the logan act or not and the protests were actually very well versed and what that was and it's basically saying that foreign diplomats cannot meet and convene with u.s. officials are u.s. citizens without congressional oversight and it's actually illegal and you can be imprisoned up to three years or be fined and so pretty much when they're having these off the record meetings obviously they're talking about policy we already know that they admit it so it is interest. you know they're there talking about policy and these protesters are saying hey this is a legal this should be really scrutinized by the mainstream media which reports on the opening of and every time kim cardassian blinks but yet doesn't report on the top one hundred thirty obed's of t

"washington journal" then " newsmakers" and later, the british phone hacking investigation with tony blair. coming up next on "washington journal," a round table. on the tuesday wisconsin recall election. then we will talk about the european economy and the views anth

>> i would fall tony blair's evidence on this. i think that might have been the case perhaps when he was prime minister. speaking personally, as someone active in front line politics, i to the broadcasters are incredibly important. it is not always clear that there are following a newspaper is judgment. i would say the significance of the story is massively elevated if it is right at the top of one of the big news shows. that is often a judge of whether something will really have an impact in the political sphere. quite often, they will be picking up stores from newspapers, but quite often, they have their own investigations. quite often, the bbc, for example -- and i'm a supporter of the bbc. i am not seeking to criticize the institution. they will run a special support -- report, a panorama report, and put on top of the today program, and we are expected to treat that as the most important thing happening in britain that day. i would not say that it is a trick for process whereby the newspapers from a story and the journalists -

his writings in "the new york times" and elsewhere and advancing the case that george bush and tony blair were making at the time to invade iraq. on the night the iraq war started, march 19, coming up on nine years ago this week in 2003. on the night the war started, michael ignatieff was hanging out with his friend, an iraqi intellectual, and they were having dinner at casa blanca, the restaurant on the harvard campus where faculty and students hang out. michael ignatieff and she had night -- dinner on the night of shock and awe. the two of them were teaching at harvard and ignatieff was the director of that center. mckeel was faculty at harvard and the two of them are probably the most important intellectual figures for the bush administration. mckee of playing the role of the native informant and the iraqi intellectual and intellectual version telling the bush administration what they wanted to hear and he is the source of dick cheney's intelligence that the american troops were being greeted with flowers and an this intelligence came from this makia. ignatieff played the very importan

mirren won an oscar as a steely elizabeth confronting a cultural sea change with prime minister's tony blair'sowing the death of princess diana. this actor won an oscar playing george vi. inspired by fighting against a stutter. >> listen. >> reporter: of course, hollywood has also played it for laughs. leslie nielsen saving her highness from an assassination attempt. and in austin powers gold member, the hero, played by mike myers, knighted for his exploits. >> your father must be very proud of you. >> oh, yeah. >> reporter: but one only crown drawn to the hotline of celebrity through diana. lady gaga, madonna, jim carrey, bette midler, el mcpherson. in fact, such is the queen's own celebrity that look-alikes have made a good living playing the role. >> it's not gone to my head. only my heart and my tiaras. >> reporter: late in her reign, the queen finds herself or her image used more than ever. from what a girl wants to agent cody bank, a pivotal figure around which comedy or drama plays out. >> hollywood is all about status and whose on top. they have someone in england, a woman who actual

i was in great britain some time ago and spoke with tony blair and david cameron and other leaders of the government. one of the said something to me -- then sets of the to me. if you are lucky enough to be elected president of the united states and you travel abroad to other countries, you will here what they think your mistakes are. what we all fear the most is a week america. [applause] american strength is essential for liberty here and around the world. [applause] the world has seen that strength time and again. of the world has seen a strong america in the past. in memorial day, i was in san diego and celebrating with our veterans. the honor associated with those who serve our country and have served in the past. three of the veterans were from the second world war. one of whom was it look out on the uss tennessee on the day of pearl harbor. as he looked up and saw the aircraft, he said his eyes locked on the eye of the pilot bringing an attack. he was injured in that conflict that day. he went on to serve for 33 years in the u.s. navy. the audience applauded as they recognized

>> i don't think that is tony blair's you. it is certain that my view.volved in using the media to force or attempt to force mr. blair's resignation -- this is in 2006? >> i would hope not. >> but where they involve? >> i would hope not. i've got no evidence of that. >> now, mr. blair said that he did know whether you mr. wheeldon mr. mcbride and mr. balls were briefing against him in the media. did you authorize your aides to brief against mr. blair? >> no. >> do you think they may have done so without your explicit approval, even with your knowledge speak with obviously did so because it was without my authorization. >> at. [inaudible] only to act with your authority, would you agree? >> no. i medically. i'm trying to explain why we change the system when i went to number 10 and why i thought it was better to have political advisors were a new development from 1970s onward. you always have civil servants without political advisors to they are obviously party people with their own views about what should happen. they had to find a way of working with us

the relationship between president bush, president clinton, and tony blair is very important. the presidents would say the personal side can make a difference in the crisis were getting through a complicated set of policy decisions. host: ken walsh is the author of the book that came out in 2003. he recently offered a "family of freedom." that came up last year. let's go to ann arbor, barry is a democrat. caller: i saw a program on the history channel about air force one and how it is maintained. the air force mechanics were very highly trained. air force one is a plum assignment. they spin the fast two years waxing the airplane. -- they spent the first tee of years waxing the airplane. it seems a total waste of talent to take a trained mechanic and make them want the airplane. the airplane does not need to be waxed. i am sure it looks shinier, but it is probably symbolic of a lot of other eyewash that goes on around it that is not necessary to have been functioning safely. are realize they have to hold things to a higher standard -- i realize they have to hold things to a hig

she was friendly with tony blair. i remember some strong arguments. she would be standing up pretty for gordon brown. >> when did you sense that mrs. brooks would be disposed to supporting you? growing picture of disenchantment. was getting its act together. who thought the government was getting it wrong. >> approximately when did you think mrs. burks was on the side about six months before the shift of support? -- on the side? about six months before this it does support? i do not know. >> not even a sense of when it attacked was it ? was it months of? was it weeks? was it years? it was certainly not weeks. it was more than that. i cannot give you any more than that. >> were you given any surprise importance of james murdoch that he would have this over his father? i think they're all important. not understand how the decision would be made. they were all important interest in making that decision. >> how important were they and all of this ta/ >> the politics and not quite sure about. i am not totally sure what role he plays. >> it may not be possi

. >> last week, former prime rate -- british prime minister tony blair defended his relationship with rupert murdoch. mr. blair recalled he had a working relationship with mr. murdoch, but then added they became personal friends while he was an office. from london, this portion is 1.5 hours. >> the other point on the abstract for mr. mullins diary. use of this mob and 70 words were you are intending to communicate that obviously the clear and stark message, which we see at the top of the page might not have been imparted to mr. murdoch as a more subtle version might have been. you accept that or not? >> i cannot remember precisely what -- precisely what i would have said. it was not an occasion that i did not recall. i do not know whether there is type of a system or not really. >> at the end of this encounter with mr. malone, you said my absolute priority is to win. i know that sounds and principle, but i see it as my role in life. >> sounds like it. by the way, let me emphasize i do not think it is an principle to win. i think if you believe in what your doing, you should. it is poi

christopher and tony blair, who can forget that evening on religion's impact on the world. henry kissinger a year ago today was on this stage, 82 years of age, participating in his first ever public debate. eloquently arguing against china owning the 21st century. and just a matter of months ago nobel laureate paul krugman and u.s. treasury secretary larry summers went head to head on the future of the north american economy. look, as entertaining and engaging as those contests were, they did not have the urgency of tonight's debate. in the last month the unthinkable has become the thinkable. when it comes to the future of europe. as early as next month with the second greek elections, we could see greece choose to leave out of choice or necessity the eurozone. many people predicted that could cause a catastrophic spike in the costs of the two of the world's largest debtor nation, spain and italy, and a bank run throughout the eurozone. the result could be an implosion both politically and economically of the european union that might plunge that continent, certainly it wou

. >> george mitchell deserves, tony blair deserves the credit. one of those remarkable sort of milestones where i never thought in my lifetime i would ever see. the ira killed the queen's cousin, lord mountbat, less than 25 years ago. he gets killed along with other members of the family and now you have people willing to put the past behind. this is an extraordinary sort of symbol of what sometimes can happen in politics. we haven't seen anything like it in the middle east that's nice to see it here. >> so mark, let's go from the middle east to new york state. "the new york times" profiling a guy that many believe will be running for president in 2016. the "times" talking about andrew cuomo and possibly running out of leverage over the same sex issue matter. talk about what he's doing and how he's gearing up already for 2016. >> well, be he got off to a fast start. albany is a tough place. i think the greatest achievement he's had from a process point of view is you had governor spitzer and governor pataki both thinking they were going to go to

i think tony blair explained in his own evidence that this was not a priority. it was not part of our mandate, and therefore it was obvious that that was not what we were doing. >> is it your evidence that you did not respond at dinner on september 10, 2007, and notified the existing proposals would take into account -- >> i felt strongly about this myself. i am not sure if other ministers felt as strongly as i did, but i explained the background to my own views. i really did not need persuading by them. or whoever else was there. >> mr. brown, you had a conversation with one man before that september day in 2007 which you communicated that in? >> these things arise from time to time. i do not think there was an informal meeting about it. >> this evidence is along the lines, owing to time pressures with the criminal justice, before may 7 or 8, 2008. this process started in march 2008. do you recall that? >> i remember conversations with michael and jack straw, who was a minister. i had this view that we could find a way forward. in the end, i think we did. >> ca

that came in the urging on the part of tony blair that the monarchy was in danger.e remember the burning of windsor castle. it's very joyous year this year. there has been a huge p.r. makeover that started with the wedding and the wedding of william and kate who are now the duke and duchess of cambridge. they are the faith of the royal family and it does feel that queen elizabeth has a lot of faith for them to carry the torch and turned a corner in terms of p.r., so it's been an interesting change. they are very good place right now. of course, the whole weekend is just beginning and full of a lot more pomp and circumstance. tomorrow evening a huge rock concert will take place at buckingham palace. elton john and paul mccartney. that is set to go and following day will be a day of thanksgiving and of prayer. the queen is the head of church in england. that will be more solemn and end it with the famous wave from buckingham palace and raf flyover. it was cancelled today because the weather was so terrific. all in all, it was a great success. >> heather: three years,