Blair: Middle East Peacemaker

[ska invita]

Why is he bothering?

After every invasion of an arab country, the invaders must pay lip service to a two state solution..the road map etc., Its the law.

More importantly to Blair, his backbenchers (and the voting masses) have had it up to here with him, and he needs to paint that picture of a caring diplomat, working to bring peace in the middle east, reframing this latest massacre as an important act of tough love.

Do you remember last time (following the destruction of Falllujah if I remember rightly) when he said London would host a peace conference between Israelies and the Palestinians, except the Israelis didnt want to go? ... ho ho ho. Did the Palestinians even turn up? If they did it wasn't quite the publicity stunt Blair had in mind... what a tosser.

 

[rocketman]

I think he wants to stay abroad as much as possible as the police are still interested in Lord Levy's squeals

This refers to Labour party sponsors being offered peerages for their money, which Levy was nicked for.

Here's a link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4812822.stm

 

[ska invita]

More importantly to Blair, his backbenchers (and the voting masses) have had it up to here with him, and he needs to paint that picture of a caring diplomat, working to bring peace in the middle east, reframing this latest massacre as an important act of tough love..

Jsut saw this:

Margaret Beckett has suffered a mass defection of Labour party members in her Derby constituency over the government's stance on the crisis in Lebanon.

Thirty-seven members of her constituency party have left for the Liberal Democrats in what appears to be a carefully managed coup for Sir Menzies Campbell's party. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1858614,00.html

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

ego?

Now I know Blair has a serious mental health condition: he actually believes his own lies and his own self-created legends. Middle East peacemaker? Only in his dreams.

I agree with both of the above. I think he has an overblown ego, coupled with some kind of messianic complex.

He's like the emperor who's wearing no clothes. And he's surrounded himself with a coterie of sycophants who are unable to tell him he's bereft of humanity and morality.

 

[Tankus]

the problem the country has , is that he got re elected ..........he is our fault ..!

Its given him a green light for all things messanic ..................

 

[mauvais]

Should have let him in. Sixty years chained to the radiator and he might have got his legacy.

 

[moono]

There was a time when the Plumber's Union would have had summat to say about that.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

Blair is arselicking poodle says former President Carter

Mr Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaeda and the recruitment of terrorists.

"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.

"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than five per cent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."

source

 

[Julie]

^ So did Michael Moore.

Whatever anyone thinks of him (or President Carter), you have to admit, however reluctantly, that Blair craps all over Bush in the brains department. The latter can barely string a sentence together. As such, Blair gave Bush et al's position on Iraq credibility. If Blair had refused to go along with the US, the world may be in a very different position right now. It may not be either, but it is a strong possibility - in my opinion.

 

[fishfingerer]

It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient.

I often wonder if a poll tax type riot at the February 15th march would have forced Blair to change his mind.

 

[big footed fred]

Blair is a total bastard.
Try going to a Muslim country. I get pissed off with having to explain that old Tony is a fuck faced bastard and I think the same of him as they do.

All that cunt has done for me is make it bloody harder to travel safely in other countries. That and piss me off big style with his domestic agenda and his string of corrupt mates.
See passport scandal and his chum who can't fill out a mortgage ap form without a fucking bunch of lies.

He has NO respect in other countries (and fuck all in this one) and so no chance at all in being a peace maker.
It's a fucking joke.

Time he pissed off and UK policy changed to "Fuck off Bush".

<that feels better >

 

[Bernie Gunther]

I think Blair still thinks he's the saviour of the British people. See e.g.

It will embarrass the Prime Minister on his return from his summer family holiday in Barbados and comes as Mr Blair prepares to make a defiant speech warning his party that it risks losing the next election if it does not unite behind him.

As friends of the Prime Minister mounted frenzied briefings in his defence yesterday, the Downing Street spin machine appeared to run out of control. A statement first put out on Friday was reissued, in which Mr Blair made a desperate defence of his Government, insisting that "after nearly a decade in office the PM is convinced that his Government has the experience and authority to meet these challenges".

source above.

 

[mauvais]

I saw something along those lines yesterday, where they wheeled out Falconer to say he was still the right man for the job, and quietly thought to myself that he's suddenly fucked.

 

[ZWord]

^ So did Michael Moore.

Whatever anyone thinks of him (or President Carter), you have to admit, however reluctantly, that Blair craps all over Bush in the brains department. The latter can barely string a sentence together. As such, Blair gave Bush et al's position on Iraq credibility. If Blair had refused to go along with the US, the world may be in a very different position right now. It may not be either, but it is a strong possibility - in my opinion.

Only if you take appearances at face value. I'm fairly sure Bush is no fool, - and even sometimes think that they might be quite a wise pair, - Bush's apparent idiocy is probably just a carefully cultivated political persona that appeals to a lot of ordinary americans in that they feel "he's just like us." and intuit some sort of reassurance that their general ignorance is not astounding, but normal, and even intelligent, kind of proves that all that book-learning intellectual stuff is rubbish, - see - Bush didn't need it.

 

[nino_savatte]

I agree with both of the above. I think he has an overblown ego, coupled with some kind of messianic complex.

He's like the emperor who's wearing no clothes. And he's surrounded himself with a coterie of sycophants who are unable to tell him he's bereft of humanity and morality.

I think this is the fundamental problem with today's politicians and political leaders; they are so obsessed with their place in history. They also can't brook contradiction or countenance anything that conflicts with the group -thought of the cult. Of course he brings token opposition into the cabinet in the form of Straw and Hain, but thir voices are drowned out by the tub thumping of Reid, Blears et al.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I saw something along those lines yesterday, where they wheeled out Falconer to say he was still the right man for the job, and quietly thought to myself that he's suddenly fucked.

Yep, I was pretty incredulous when the whey-faced Charlie Falconer appeared on my screen yesterday, and nothing to do with constitutional affairs in the offing.

It made me remark to my wife that it's come to a state of affairs when Blair is getting members of his inner circle to defend him. The usual idea is to get someone who's seen as an "honest broker" to do so, not some fat weasel who was a university bum-chum, and is hopelessly compromised even in the public's eyes by his closeness to Blair.

 

[Julie]

Only if you take appearances at face value. I'm fairly sure Bush is no fool, - and even sometimes think that they might be quite a wise pair, - Bush's apparent idiocy is probably just a carefully cultivated political persona that appeals to a lot of ordinary americans in that they feel "he's just like us." and intuit some sort of reassurance that their general ignorance is not astounding, but normal, and even intelligent, kind of proves that all that book-learning intellectual stuff is rubbish, - see - Bush didn't need it.

I see what you're saying. And I agree that although Bush is obviously not an "intellectual", he's a shrewd bastard.

I still believe, however, that Blair "legitimised", if you will, the invasion/occupation of Iraq.

But as I type this I've only just considered that perhaps that's where your assessment of Bush patently manifests itself: It's like Bush is shooting at Blair's feet, sneering "Dance boy... dance" and Blair continues to dance as fast as he can.

Isn't it embarrassing/shameful/appalling/etc how both England and Australia's leaders - and two men with (supposedly) differing political ideologies - simply went along with Bush? People pleasing/approval seeking on the grandest scale.

 

[teqniq]

Isn't it embarrassing/shameful/appalling/etc how both England and Australia's leaders - and two men with (supposedly) differing political ideologies - simply went along with Bush? People pleasing/approval seeking on the grandest scale.

I agree with the above. I told my M.P. as much in a letter at the beginning of the Lebanon war (much good it may have done but it made me feel better anyway). I also feel though that big fat contracts were waved under Blair's nose as an incentive for being on the right side when all the business was taken care of and well, if you're not on the right side you're going to be left out in the cold.

 

[Streathamite]

Only if you take appearances at face value. I'm fairly sure Bush is no fool, - and even sometimes think that they might be quite a wise pair, - Bush's apparent idiocy is probably just a carefully cultivated political persona that appeals to a lot of ordinary americans in that they feel "he's just like us." and intuit some sort of reassurance that their general ignorance is not astounding, but normal, and even intelligent, kind of proves that all that book-learning intellectual stuff is rubbish, - see - Bush didn't need it.

well, a look at bush's life indicates he ain't the sharpest tool in the box. his major achievement before being shoehorned onto the GOp ticket in 2000 was winning the Texas governorship. and the fact of the matter is that having the name 'BUSH' on the ticket gets you a huge long way to that point. before that, he managed to bankrupt three oil companies. I mean, HOW do you manage to run an oilco into the ground, in TEXAS?????
he has vbeen universally regarded ass the family dimwit - in sharp contrast to hos pappy, who was always seen as the intellectual force in the reagan administration (OK, OK, but Cheney, Haig and baker were no intellectual slouches either).

 

[Streathamite]

Your standards must be incredibly low. AFAICR his first statement as a PM was how he wasn't going to change any of the policies implemented by the previous Tory fuckers. Bright start indeed.

well, the public certainly thought he made a bright start, as his polls were stellar and consistent for the first 3 years in office. betcha can't find any other PM of whom that can be said.
and I would generally argue that it is mainstream opinion that counts in a democracy - not farleft embittered ex LP activists like me.

 

[Streathamite]

Your standards must be incredibly low. AFAICR his first statement as a PM was how he wasn't going to change any of the policies implemented by the previous Tory fuckers. Bright start indeed.

Now; put eyes back in head.
look again at OP in question;
absorb following words: after a bright start, for a PM
...I'd say he got that. do you know any PM, left or right, whose first year saw his govt completely on track, soaring in the polls, and the manifesto stuck to?

 

[Julie]

I agree with the above. I told my M.P. as much in a letter at the beginning of the Lebanon war (much good it may have done but it made me feel better anyway).

Good on you for writing to your M.P. I know what you mean by your sentiments re: what good did it do, but I applaud any and all who take the time to let these power tripping pollies who work for us know what we think and feel about actions considered or already undertaken.

I also feel though that big fat contracts were waved under Blair's nose* as an incentive for being on the right side when all the business was taken care of and well, if you're not on the right side you're going to be left out in the cold.

*Really? What a disgrace if it's true.

 

[teqniq]

*Really? What a disgrace if it's true.

Pure speculation on my part, being the cynic that I am. But I wouldn't be in the least bit suprised if it was true. I've pretty much given up on government in the U.K. actually representing the intrests of the people of this country.

 

[refugee]

.....do you know any PM, left or right, whose first year saw his govt completely on track, soaring in the polls, and the manifesto stuck to?

Completely on track, no of course not. Do you know any other PM, left or right who has come into power praising and promising to keep the oppositions policies?

 

[Julie]

I've pretty much given up on government in the U.K. actually representing the intrests of the people of this country.

True of Howard down here as well. He has the audacity to talk about looking after "ordinary" or "the average" Australian. But it's bullshit. And he knows nothing about the "ordinary" anybody. He looks after the boys at the big end of town; always has, always will.

As an aside, when I see him wearing a hard hat, talking to miners or those in the construction industry, etc, I want to reach through the tv screen and squeeze the life out of the lying, deceitful, union-busting, hypocritical arsehole. And that's when I'm in a good mood

 

[moono]

How about a small bomb in his pie ? Lol.

 

[Julie]

^

Another punishment would be denying him access to Dubya. He'd cry like a baby

 

[nino_savatte]

^

Another punishment would be denying him access to Dubya. He'd cry like a baby

Can you imagine it? The tantrums, the tears...LOL!!!

 

[Julie]

Can you imagine it? The tantrums, the tears...LOL!!!

I know!

And that's not too far from the truth. When Dubya made an 18 hour visit to Oz a few years ago (18 hours.... isn't that in itself indicative of what he thinks of Australia and our fearless leader?).... he made a speech to parliament and I swear, Howy teared up.

I think it's lurve (at least on Howy's part)

 

[moono]

It might have been out of sympathy with a mind less capable of lucid expression than himself.