Melodrama in London
There are elements of soap opera in Tony Blair's continuing political dance in the UK. Everyone knows the eventual outcome, but no one knows for sure when the season will end.This opinion is from The New York Times.
The Latest Crises Do Little for Blair’s Political Standing
"LONDON, Aug. 15 — There should, perhaps, be some relief here at two events that have become entwined in British politics and its perennial questioning of Tony Blair's standing.
"One is the cease-fire in Lebanon, which many in London’s political village were angrily demanding. The other was the easing of London’s terror alert after the roundup last Thursday of two dozen terrorism suspects accused of plotting to bomb trans-Atlantic airliners.
"Both episodes might have been welcomed as a retreat from real or threatened violence on a tremendous scale. Yet both left a curious aftertaste, fueling rather than calming the public debate over Mr. Blair’s performance...
"Mistrust of Mr. Blair’s alliance with Mr. Bush goes far beyond the Muslim minority of 1.6 million. Since the invasion of Iraq, when more than one million Britons took to the streets in protest, suspicion of the trans-Atlantic bond sought by Mr. Blair has been central to public discourse and may be one reason for the recent criticism he has faced.
"As the military historian and columnist Max Hastings put it, 'One could nowadays fit into an old-fashioned telephone box those who believe anything Bush or Tony Blair says about foreign policy.'"...
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:16 AM
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