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Our buddy Blair

6 comments on Our buddy Blair

Our buddy Blair
: It looked tight and tough for Tony Blair for awhile there, but he stood firmly by us and our President. It was easier for Bush; this was his war; his party was behind him. For Blair, this was Bush’s war and his party was not behind him. They held it over him like probation over a two-time offender. He looked exhausted.

But the Times of London says Blair has run the marathon (and still looks like it) … but he won.

TONY BLAIR staggered the last stretch of his war marathon yesterday, a man now running on pure willpower, gaunt, gritted, visibly elated, and profoundly, knee-saggingly knackered….

Hands reached out from all sides to slap his back as he reached the end. Iain Duncan Smith was the first.

6 responses to “Our buddy Blair”

  1. Jackie D Avatar
    Jackie D

    Blair’s struggle in the weeks leading up to this war was one of the hardest things to watch. Every night, the news told of nothing but the fierce opposition to him and his determination for Britain to act as part of the Coalition. Every night, he was ripped up one side and down the other. He was savaged merely for being certain that this war was just; I wish I had a nickel for every time a reporter said to him, “Well, not everyone agrees with you, so what makes you think you’re so right?”
    It wasn’t pretty.
    Consequently, I am overjoyed at the way he has emerged from this. I’ve always been a critic of Blair — he’s not actually achieved anything domestically, and there are a few pieces of legislation his government have really scare me (national ID cards, anybody?) — but I do believe he’s a good guy who understand what’s at stake here, and that he has been fighting the good fight with regard to Iraq. He’s got nothing but criticism for it for the last four or five months, though. The British press can be an ugly, ugly beast.
    For more on just how crucial Blair has been, and will continue to be, in trying to bring the US and Europe together, read this excellent piece by Robert Kagain.

  2. Pyecraft Avatar
    Pyecraft

    Surviving the blame for splitting Europe, the barbarism of Commons’ polarised politics, and his own party’s acridic peacenik wrath, is one thing.
    But surviving the negative influence of Britain’s headline-only tabloid press will be quite another.
    Luck favours the brave; here’s hoping an eloquent
    deserving Mr Blair will receive his fair share.

  3. Danjo Avatar
    Danjo

    Dearest Jackie D and Pyecraft;
    I agree, I admire Mr Blair tremendously. It takes a man to “do the right thing”.
    Danjo
    As much as I love England, still gonna drink my beer cold.

  4. Bashir Gemayel Avatar
    Bashir Gemayel

    Now, if only Mr. Blair would jettison his U.N. and EU fetishes, things would then be perfect.

  5. Dale Avatar
    Dale

    On the other hand, whereas it was Blair against much of his own party, it was Bush against much of the world (though I take your point that Bush had the support of his party…and God bless Tony Blair).

  6. David Avatar
    David

    Jackie D – You’re wrong about Blair’s domestic successes; his has been the most redisributive government since the 1945 Labour government. And I’m in the UK and I don’t have to carry and ID card.
    I’ve been so impressed I’ve rejoined the Labour Party.