Blair for the Record.(Tony Blair)(Brief Article)(Interview)

It took not only the clout of American superpower, but also the global networking of British Prime Minister Tony Blair to build the broad coalition behind the post-September 11 war on terror. Blair was headed for Germany last week when NEWSWEEK's Stryker McGuire caught up with him. Excerpts from their conversation:

MCGUIRE: Much has been made of the fact that after September 11, you were seen reading the Quran. But I understand you actually began long before that. Why?

BLAIR: I'm interested in theology. I read a lot of it. I also think understanding the Quran is a very important part of understanding how the Islamic world thinks. There's a lot of ignorance on both sides.

And do you think that's changing?

I think it is changing under the force of circumstances, but it would be sensible if we tried to change it further by exchanging views. Christians, for example, would be fascinated to know how much of the Quran deals with Jesus, Joseph and Mary, and the virgin birth, and how revered Christ is within the Muslim religion.

True Islam is immensely tolerant and open. Fundamentalism in Islam is no different from the Protestants who will go on the streets of Belfast and shoot a Catholic, any Catholic. We've all had our fundamentalists.

Understanding history is [also] part of removing some of the barriers. I'm a strong supporter of Israel, but it's important to understand the sense of grievance in the Arab world about the conditions in which Palestinians live and their need to find their own viable state.