Is the British Prime Minister Bush's "poodle"?

[Karanaki]

it seems to me that whatever bush wants blair to do, blair does it. it's as though blair sees bush as his "boss". if bush told blair to lick his boots, blair would get to his knees and do it.

[Niquie]

Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.

The Gold Dust Twins.

Frick and Frack.

Bevis and Butthead.

[Karanaki]

Originally posted by Niquie
Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.

The Gold Dust Twins.

Frick and Frack.

Bevis and Butthead.

LOL! that's funny. that made me laugh.

i think they are in love with each other.

[Marmaduke]

As a Brit, the man's an embarressment frankly...and I voted for him

It is one thing supporting another country, it is another having your own foreign policy determined by a government I cannot even vote for here !

Originally posted by Niquie
Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.

The Gold Dust Twins.

Frick and Frack.

Bevis and Butthead.

LOL!

Like Liver and Lima Beans. Both are gross!

[imported_rolimandoli]

Originally posted by Karanaki
it seems to me that whatever bush wants blair to do, blair does it. it's as though blair sees bush as his "boss". if bush told blair to lick his boots, blair would get to his knees and do it.

Obviously Mr. Blair thinks that there is a special relationship between Britain and the United States that must be maintained. Some kind of bridge between the United States and Europe.
So he lined up with the US very early and now it is very difficult for him to change his position.
Such an approach was probably right while the Clinton administration was in power. But in my opinion the current US administration regards all European nations only as pawns in a chess game between the white player (US) and the black player (whatever the current US administration considers bad).

After all I think Mr. Blair isn´t a bad man. But maybe he should consider that there is a difference between following and friendship.

Roli

[Karanaki]

i too also voted for tony blair in the general election. but this guy seems to have more in common with margaret thatcher than the leader of a labour government. the blair/bush relationship just reminds me of the thatcher/reagan relationship.

[Marmaduke]

I agree with both your comments here Rolimandoli and Karanaki, but the interesting point is this 'special relationship' that is supposed to exist between the US and UK. In the Falklands conflict, the US did very little to assist the UK (it was actually the French that did most to assist us by disabling the weapons guidance systems on the Argentinean missiles) and they invaded Grenada without even informing the UK government of their intentions. That's after the Suez crises, where the US refused to support us (although probably that was the right thing to do).

I recall a BBC radio program back in the late Clinton days where they were investigating this 'special relationship' and found little evidence of it in practice or even in Washington circles. Certainly we have perhaps a better relationship between the US than many other countries, but to call it 'special' in any sense of the word is an exaggeration.

Because of our shared history, we do have something of a close bond to the US, but we are as much a part of the 'old Europe' that so disdains the likes of Cheney, as Germany or France are. Blair nailed his colours to the mast, by supporting Bush, yet Bush has done precious little to prevent the IRA fund raising in the US (saying back in 2001, that is too legally complicated to prevent).

I am appalled by the way we seem to have cut our ties to our European allies and seem to be little than US sponsored sycophants. Sometimes friends have to tell each other uncomfortable truths, and it's time we did the same with regard to the present US administration’s foreign policy. It is find to lend support to a friend, but to follow them into carrying out their own 'dirty' work for a variety of nefarious reasons of their own, is sadly misguided- as Blair will no doubt discover to his own cost.


[Edited by Jasperthecat on 26th February 2003 at 19:34]

[VicBlack]

Or maybe Blair is aligning with the US on this because it's the right thing to do.

[Marmaduke]

Well that's your opinion. I am sure Blair does believe it is the right thing to do, but it is more complicated in domestic terms, than just this.

Bush has been criticised for using the war to hide domestic problems, but this is just as true of Blair as it is of Bush, and it certainly comes at a convenient time when the government's policies on education, health and transport are desperately wanting.

But it is also about Blair wanting to allign the UK more with the US than with Europe- and that is for far less honourable reasons than might first seem. Blair is still hoping for the UK to play some larger international role than it is really equiped to do at present, and I think he is using the Bush-Blair pact as a way of levering some of this influence we might not otherwise have.

This, of course, depends on whether you buy into the 'special relationship' we may have with the US, and I am not at all convinced that we do.

[imported_rolimandoli]

Originally posted by VicBlack
Or maybe Blair is aligning with the US on this because it's the right thing to do.

Obviously you know what is right. I don´t !!!

I would appreciate if you could enlighten me what´s the right thing to do. Looking forward to your reply.

Roli

[Carl_Long]

I suspect that there are as many domestic interests in bashing Mr. Bush & Mr. Blair as there are international concerns. In the US, the opposition party lost a bitterly disputed election, and has done literally everything to discredit Bush since, pausing only briefly after 9/11. Former Presidents Clinton & Carter are openly questioning the President, something which until now, was not done (even the elder Bush held his tongue during Clinton's many questionable activities). I do not know the extent of Mr. Blair's opposition, but suspect that equivalent political opportunism may also lie at the root of many critiques.

It's interesting to note the positive impression Mr. Clinton made on many Europeans, no question he has enormous charisma. Many of us in the states regard him as one of the least principled people ever to hold office. And that's being generous. He's a slick con-man who has beguiled many, and his party trusts him only as far as he can bring them more votes.

Politics aside, there is good reason for the UK and the US to have strong ties, intelligence sharing (and the maintaining of that confidence) being quite a factor. There are considerable rumours of both Blair & Bush knowing more than they are willing to reveal, for reasons of protecting sources and methods, whether this is borne out, only time will tell.

As for the US having some obsession with controlling Europe, that's not the way most of us see it. We think Europe is a great place to visit and makes some fine and quite stylish products. Turning Europe into a clone of the US would be counterproductive. We are very much for open and democratic societies. Japan and Germany might be willing to vouch for that.

If there is intrigue & complicity you are looking for, consider the Fina/Elf deal with Iraq, something like $60 Billion to develop the southern oil fields. Perhaps that is a reason M. Chirac is so vociferously defending Mr. Hussein?

I guess what is really puzzling is seeing people willing to attack Bush & Blair, yet pay little attention to a documented tyrant and mass murderer.