Iraq's vice-president claims Tony Blair was "brainwashed" by President Bush into not setting a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq.While "brainwashing" is likely a fairly...um....dramatic term for what happened, no doubt, Blair was spanked (and probably forced to visit Israel and the Palestinians as punishment for going off the party line...you know them Bushies!)
Tareq al-Hashemi suggested Mr Blair had supported his idea of announcing a timetable, but then changed his mind after talking to Mr Bush.
The two leaders discussed the issue about three months ago, after which the PM was to raise the issue with Mr Bush.
Once upon a time, I had a lot of respect for Tony Blair, who seemed genuinely interested in not only being a good friend to America, particularly Bill Clinton, but who seemed a decent and honorable man with a good heart and a mind to boot.
But once he over-cozied up to Bush, barring the initial overly zealous kissy-face session (hey, new leader, you want to make a good impression), things went quickly downhill for Blair, not just in my eyes, but in the eyes of Britons everywhere.
Which is sad.
Just once, I'd like Blair to show some backbone:
I love that word "relationship". Covers all manner of sins, doesn't it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, erm... Britain. We may be a small country but we're a great one, too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that. And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that.I know you've seen the movie, Mr. Prime Minister. You must have. It's merely the best Christmas film ever made. You're leaving office soon anyway. Give British pride a shot in the arm, and just say "no" to Dubya, even once. Let him feel that he is as unwelcome and hated in Europe as we all know he is, and as he is here.
You got nothing to lose!
snarkasm, snarcasm, snarky
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