George Bush's Poodle

[monsoon]

Tony Blair officially announced that he is stepping down as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This is earlier than he stated he wanted as during his last election he said he wanted to serve a full term. Of course the reason he is going comes down to one word, Iraq. Like Bush this will be his legacy and during his speech today, he seemed almost apologetic for letting this war happen saying that he supported it for the "right reasons".

The UK is really the only significant government in the entire world that supports the Bush Administration's foreign policy and it remains to be seen now how much of that support will remain once Blair is gone. It's my guess the Bush Administration will stand alone, both globally and here at home.

[erdogs]

^^I wouldn't be so fast with that accessment. Although the war in Iraq has been a failure and has little support left, France just elected a U.S. friendly Government. The biggest concern still remains terrorism and its effect on the civilized world. Tony Blair's resignation is probably well over due, as he has been in power long enough. I'm curious how our next election turns out and what change of course we take. I'm also curious about what the new Prime Minister will do, if he will be a radical departure from Blair.

[monsoon]

Haha you must have been watching Fox News again if you think the election of new French President is an endorsement of George Bush or Tony Blair. Not even close. That election didn't have anything to do with that and the brain dead American media got it wrong yet again.

Blair is leaving office early because of Iraq and for making the mistake of hitching his cart to George Bush's horse. He lost all credibility with his own people and is derided in the rest of Europe because of it. His only saving grace is that he isn't George Bush. It's a shame because otherwise he is a well versed, educated, and eloquent man. Much different than the incompetent buffone running the United States.

[erdogs]

You're a trip metro, I don't get all my news from Fox, just like I'm sure you don't get all yours from NPR. It may not be an endorsement of the war in Iraq, but it does go to show the citizens of France still believe terrorism is a problem. Not to mention their high unemployment and taxes. I doubt you will see a left wing radical take over for Blair. Some of us still take terrorism as a serious problem, then there are those that dismiss it. Tony Blair will be missed over time, he was a strong leader.

[Gusterfell]

The French do not see terrorism as the biggest issue facing either their society or the world, and they do not see any connection between terrorism and the US occupation of Iraq. Polls show that they, like most of the world, see the US as a bigger threat to the world than al Qaida, thanks to Bush's cowboy foreign policy. I doubt even Fox News would be so absurd as to imply that this election is any vindication of that policy.

[erdogs]

I refuse to believe that the British and French hate us more than Al-Qaeda, although it is obvious some do. By the way, Al-Qaeda is not the only terrorist group out there. Like I said, it will be interesting to see what direction the new Prime Minister takes. I thought before, that the French would elect another leftist, but they did not. So maybe what people tell the pollsters and what they believe are two different things. Neither of them should stop going after the sleeper cells in their country or they will get their own 911.

As for Blair being Bush's poodle, that's a ridiculous statement. Blair is his own man and did what he felt was right. I doubt any of you would have the guts to tell him that to his face. You can disagree with him, but please stop with this name calling. It only makes you look childish.

[Gusterfell]

I refuse to believe that the British and French hate us more than Al-Qaeda, although it is obvious some do. By the way, Al-Qaeda is not the only terrorist group out there. Like I said, it will be interesting to see what direction the new Prime Minister takes. I thought before, that the French would elect another leftist, but they did not. So maybe what people tell the pollsters and what they believe are two different things. Neither of them should stop going after the sleeper cells in their country or they will get their own 911.

[monsoon]

....

As for Blair being Bush's poodle, that's a ridiculous statement. Blair is his own man and did what he felt was right. I doubt any of you would have the guts to tell him that to his face. You can disagree with him, but please stop with this name calling. It only makes you look childish.

[Pillsbury]

I didn't say the British or French hate us, simply that they see out foreign policy as a greater threat to the world than terrorism. That's an important difference, and one that isn't hard to grasp once you look beyond the black/white, good/evil, with us/against us type of thought that plagues so much of this country.

Both France and Britain have had many terrorist attacks over the years. They well understand that preventing terrorism is primarily a law enforcement issue, and secondarily an issue of diplomacy and compromise. They have both learned the hard way that brute military force only makes the problem worse, a lesson the US is learning now. Another 9/11 is far more likely in this country than either Britain or France.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the entire right/left spectrum is shifted leftward in most of Europe. Sarkozy may be a conservative by French standards, but that likely puts him at about the same point on the spectrum as the American Democrats. Keep in mind that his challenger was a member of the Socialist Party. When was the last time a socialist made a serious challenge for the presidency in this country? As for the American conservatives, they'd be an extremist fringe group in France, as in most European countries.

In any case, unless Blair's successor makes an effort to change course in Iraq, he'll quickly find himself just as unpopular as Blair has become. His term as PM will be over before it's begun.

[Gusterfell]

I also disagree that Europe is less likely to be struck by a future terrorist attack than the USA. You guys underestimate that the alienation and racism that is prevelant against Muslims and Arabs in Europe---which is, strangely, almost unheard of here among everyday people.

[Charlotteman]

One of the most perplexing things about Blair is how he was Bill Clinton's best friend on the world stage. Then as soon as Bush took office, he became Bush's best friend. Odd?

[Pillsbury]

That is true, of course. Europe has certainly seen its share of Muslim terrorism, and certainly will in the future. However, what the alienated Muslim masses in Europe lack are the organizational coordination and financial resources needed to pull off a 9/11-scale attack. The groups with the capability to do so have made it plainly clear that the US is their primary enemy, and that Europe is guilty by association, at worst. It wasn't so long ago that bin Laden offered a truce to Europe.

As for Sarkozy, I must admit I don't know much about his personal politics (hence my use of the word "likely" regarding his alignment with the Democrats). My statement above was in response to the notion that the election of a conservative (by French standards) somehow implies that the French are coming around to the point of view of the American right.

[erdogs]

As for Sarkozy, I must admit I don't know much about his personal politics (hence my use of the word "likely" regarding his alignment with the Democrats). My statement above was in response to the notion that the election of a conservative (by French standards) somehow implies that the French are coming around to the point of view of the American right.

[monsoon]

One of the most perplexing things about Blair is how he was Bill Clinton's best friend on the world stage. Then as soon as Bush took office, he became Bush's best friend. Odd?

[michaelskis]

Blair was a very promising world leader.

[monsoon]

....

I thought that he handled the Bus and Train attacks with a firm hand.

[runawayjim]

did anyone see this?

a little background and information on that image (which was not photoshopped)

[nowensone]

Nice, is the caption also incorrect? The US is formally prepared to end the wart with North Korea? That doesn't sound accurate either.

[monsoon]

^They are referring to the war that was held in the 1950s. That war was never ended and technically the United States is still technically in a state of war with North Korea and it's ally Communist China which today the corporate controlled media and government simply refers to as China.

[nowensone]

^I was referring to Bush being prepared to end it officially being inaccurate, that sounds completely unlike him.

[Southron]

I doubt you will see a left wing radical take over for Blair.... Tony Blair will be missed over time, he was a strong leader.

[monsoon]

European TV, well at least British TV, gave significant coverage of Blair's departure from 10 Downing St. this morning, and his tendering his resignation to the Queen. Also much commentary was made over the relationship of Blair and GW Bush and that his successor will most likely not have the same close ties. 80% of the British think that Blair was too close to Bush.

Fortunately for the British the nighmare known as GW Bush is ending but unfortunately we here in the USA have to live with it for another 18 months.

[dxartist]

GWB is an American nightmare. He is the poorest excuse for a president I've seen in my lifetime. He almost singlehandedly ruined a lot of good will from the rest of the world, while dragging us into a unecessary "war" which we should not be in in the first place. Unfortunately for us, we are stuck with him of bumbling his way through office through 08.