London ? Prime Minister Tony Blair committed British troops to Iraq even though he despaired at the failure of the United States to plan adequately for the aftermath of the invasion, a newspaper reported today.

The Observer quoted Jeremy Greenstock, a former British envoy to Baghdad, as saying Blair “was tearing his hair over some of the deficiencies” in planning for the stabilization and reconstruction of the country.

“There were moments of throwing his hands in the air,” added Greenstock, who was Britain’s representative in Iraq in 2003 and 2004.

The newspaper said the remarks were made in a documentary about Blair’s decade in power to be shown next week on Britain’s Channel 4 television.