Meanwhile in London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave a major address on the Middle East. He said the answer to Iraq lies not only in Iraq itself, but outside it. Blair broke with President Bush and advocated for building up a “new partnership” with Iran to help calm the violence in Iraq. He said steps must be taken throughout the Middle East.

Prime Minister Tony Blair: “A whole region policy should start with Israel and Palestine. That is the core. Then we should make progress with Lebanon. We should then unite all moderate Arab and Muslim voices behind a push for peace in those countries, but also in Iraq. And we should be standing up, empowering, respecting those with a moderate and modern view of the faith of Islam everywhere.”