It wasn't the 'Yo' that was humiliating, it was the 'No'

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/comment/0,,1827056,00.html

It wasn't the 'Yo' that was humiliating, it was the 'No'

Tony Blair wanted Britain to look big in the world. But being a satellite of George Bush is making him and us look small

Andrew Rawnsley
Sunday July 23, 2006
The Observer

You will have your own view - there's so much to choose from - on which part of the open-mic conversation between George W Bush and Tony Blair at the Yo Summit was the most toe-curling. One of my favourite excruciating moments is when Bush thanks Blair for sending him a Burberry sweater as a birthday gift. The American President sends up the British Prime Minister by mocking: 'I know you picked it out yourself.'

There's no question which exchange is most enjoyable for those with contempt for the Prime Minister. It is the moment that makes Mr Blair look like the poodle of popular caricature. Worse, he comes over as a poodle who can't even beg his master to toss him a dog biscuit. It is the same bit of the encounter that has caused the most wincing among the Prime Minister's friends.

When Tony Blair offers himself as a Middle East peace envoy, he is casually rebuffed by the American President between bites on a bread roll. Told by Bush that 'Condi is going', the normally fluent Blair is reduced to inarticulate jabbering. 'Well, it's only if, I mean, you know, if she's got a... or if she needs the ground prepared as it were... Because obviously if she goes out, she's got to succeed, if it were, whereas I can go out and just talk.' Yeah, just talk.

It was awful for Tony Blair to be caught asking for permission to go to the Middle East. It was dire to hear George Bush saying he wouldn't let the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom go out - not even on a pointless trip. It looks even more humiliating when the French Foreign Minister is going........

I was wrong. My toes were curling after the second paragraph.

It's almost worse for the UK. Blair is a puppet for an incompetent bully. Bad leaders humiliate the whole country.

February 5, 1998

Political soulmates share mutual admiration

Clinton formally welcomed Blair on Thursday with a 19-gun salute at the start of a schedule that will keep the two leaders and their wives together for much of the time until the Blairs leave on Saturday.

Their mutual admiration was evident on Thursday. Blair and Clinton have been compared for their similar ages, lifestyles and politics.

"We can always depend on each other," Clinton, 51, told the British leader.

"I know that the ties between us will strengthen us further," Blair, 44, responded. "On so many issues, we think alike.

<snip>

Asked about the chemistry between the two, Clinton told reporters, "We share values, we share interests, and now we have a common vision for the future."

source: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/05/blair.clinton.pm/#1

Sometimes its hard for me to remember that Tony Blair is the same man that he was then with Clinton...

Actually, what I find particularly frightening is what lead to Tony Blair becoming the dog to kick and so willingly too. It makes one wonder what has happened behind the scenes. Did the Neo-cons take him aside and threaten him? Let him know what could happen, almost like the concept of the "economic hitman"? Work with us, do as we say and you'll stay in power. Turn against us and you or your family may suffer. :eyes:

this Israel/Lebanon issue. Late break--but still important-as the US now stands alone with Israel (no cease-fire till Condi says so).

downhill imo, but that probably has a lot to do with what/who he has to work with now, to our neverending deficit.

Don't they have more power to remove imcompetent leaders than we do? And higher standards?

Sorry, I guess the literary quality of British papers wasn't the point.

Poor Tony Blair. I really feel for the guy -- Bush is a dangerous man to piss off. It must be like dealing with a Mafia don: you don't like having to do it, but if you screw up you could get your legs broken.

And yes, as an American this is humiliating to read that once again Our Great Leader has behaved like an ill-trained baboon.

Hekate

Saying "no" becomes even more dangerous after you've said "yes" for awhile. It becomes not just an exchange of favors, but an obligation to keep supporting that person ... and if you pull out after being considered a reliable supporter, the big guy stands to lose face.

Bush doesn't even seem to obey the normal rules regarding crime kingpins ... he isn't even giving Blair tiny favors or concessions in return. For example, all of Blair's pleading about issues like global warming and African poverty have simply fallen flat with Bush. He doesn't even want to be seen to agree (when he, or doubtless Karl Rove, could think up ways to "play nice" while doing very little).

> He doesn't even want to be seen to agree (when he, or doubtless
> Karl Rove, could think up ways to "play nice" while doing very
> little).

Remember when Cindy Sheehan almost got heat-stroke last year, standing outside the "ranch" gates on that first day? The SS wouldn't let her companions (some of who are vets I know) go back to the car for water.

My mind boggled. I thought: Karl Rove is supposed to be this evil genius of politics. If W himself doesn't have the sense to tell how bad this looks to the country and the world, wouldn't you think Rove would have advised him to play the gentleman and send the lady out some water? It would have cost him nothing and gained him big points with a lot of Americans who still want to believe in him. ("See? he really does care.")

But no. The evil genius may only know how to play dirty. And as for Bush himself, he only pretends to be nice when he wants to, which is more and more seldom.

Loathesome cockroaches.

Hekate

still haven't registered with Blair. What a fool.

of supporters.

Throwing Tony a bone would make Blair look good, but the lynch mob might confuse it with treating another country (or even person) as an equal with a valid opinion and contribution to make.

That would be intolerable to the right.