Couric Trots Out Tony Blair to Defend Obama on Iran

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“President Obama's response to the government crackdown has been criticized by some Republicans as timid,” Katie Couric noted on Wednesday's CBS Evening News as she featured a retort: “Today, in an exclusive interview with CBS News, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair came to his defense saying he believes the protestors understand the tough position the President is in.”

Following a single soundbite from Blair, Couric plugged more on the Web: “For more of my extended conversation with Tony Blair, you can go to our Web site at CBSNews.com.”

The entire brief segment on the Wednesday, June 24 CBS Evening News:

KATIE COURIC: President Obama's response to the government crackdown has been criticized by some Republicans as timid. Today, in an exclusive interview with CBS News, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair came to his defense saying he believes the protestors understand the tough position the President is in.

TONY BLAIR: I don't think any of those people out in the street in Iran -- who incidentally are utterly in touch through the Internet and elsewhere with the modern world -- I think that they will completely understand that he's trying to manage a situation in which he obviously is supportive of them but doesn't want to end up in a situation where his attack on the regime is then used as a reason to act against them.

COURIC: For more of my extended conversation with Tony Blair, you can go to our Web site at CBSNews.com.