You will remember Tony Blair telling us that the war in Iraq was in no way linked to the fact that Iraq is one of the world's major sources of oil.
Everyone asked the question why it was that a poor impoverished country like Zimbabwe with a despot in charge was being left alone by international forces whilst Iraq faced the wrath of the US and the UK. People wondered back in 2002 and 2003 whether if Zimbabwe had oil, would Mugabe be allowed to get off scot free, but no, Tony Blair said it was definitely NOT about oil.
So we should, I imagine, all be shocked to hear that Tony Blair is now being paid by a foreign oil company with interests in Iraqi oil field. No ? Neither am I.
Showing posts with label Tony Blair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tony Blair. Show all posts
1/29/2010
Despair over Blair
Watching Blair today just serves to highlight what it is that people so dislike about politics. After everything that has happened, despite the weight of evidence, in spite of all the facts, he still does not get it.
Like an MP justifying his excessive expenses claim, Blair stood out as being slick, but ultimately so intransigent that whilst he may go away from today feeling that he gave a good account of himself, I think his performance will ultimately come to haunt him.
The line, which I paraphrase here that "I'ts not about a deceit or a lie or misleading, it's about a decision", makes clear his lies.
Blair had already made a decision, no doubt when he met Bush, that Britain would invade Iraq no matter what. So Blair did mislead, he did deceive, he did lie, and all of those were just to get parliament and the British people to back his decision, made on the basis of flawed evidence.
Blair might be the consumate politician, but his legacy will be that of a Prime Minister who wasted some of the best economic conditions in years, missed an opportunity for parliamentary and electoral reform, who failed to take action to fix those parts of broken Britain all in the name of having his war.
Like an MP justifying his excessive expenses claim, Blair stood out as being slick, but ultimately so intransigent that whilst he may go away from today feeling that he gave a good account of himself, I think his performance will ultimately come to haunt him.
The line, which I paraphrase here that "I'ts not about a deceit or a lie or misleading, it's about a decision", makes clear his lies.
Blair had already made a decision, no doubt when he met Bush, that Britain would invade Iraq no matter what. So Blair did mislead, he did deceive, he did lie, and all of those were just to get parliament and the British people to back his decision, made on the basis of flawed evidence.
Blair might be the consumate politician, but his legacy will be that of a Prime Minister who wasted some of the best economic conditions in years, missed an opportunity for parliamentary and electoral reform, who failed to take action to fix those parts of broken Britain all in the name of having his war.
10/29/2009
That's the kiss of death for Blair's ambitions
Gordon Brown today spoke up on behalf of Tony Blair becoming the first President of the EU. Brown called Blair and "excellent candidate" and spoke highly of Blair's qualities. There is only one problem. An endorsement from Gordon Brown is like a reverse form of the Midas touch for everything Gordon Brown touches turns in to excrement, not gold.
Such is the contempt in which Gordon Brown is held by the public these days, should he endorse beer, chocolate or sex then it is likely that beer sales would fall, women would stop thinking about chocolate and the birth rate would drop dramatically.
Such is the contempt in which Gordon Brown is held by the public these days, should he endorse beer, chocolate or sex then it is likely that beer sales would fall, women would stop thinking about chocolate and the birth rate would drop dramatically.
10/12/2008
Further evidence that Tony Blair just cannot stop lying
Way back in 1997, the controversial decision to exempt Formula One from a ban on tobacco advertising was passed of by Tony Blair as being nothing to do with him, nothing to do with a £1million loan to Labour from F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, and nothing to do with Ecclestone's meeting with Blair just hours before the decision was made.
Now, it is reported that the truth is very different.
"The documents reportedly show then Prime Minister Tony Blair intervened to secure an exemption just hours after meeting the racing tycoon on 16 October 1997.
But at the time, the prime minister denied personal involvement, and appeared on a BBC programme to insist he was a "pretty straight kind of guy".
A pretty straight kind of guy ? And to think Tony Blair now lectures in the US on faith and morality !
Now, it is reported that the truth is very different.
"The documents reportedly show then Prime Minister Tony Blair intervened to secure an exemption just hours after meeting the racing tycoon on 16 October 1997.
But at the time, the prime minister denied personal involvement, and appeared on a BBC programme to insist he was a "pretty straight kind of guy".
A pretty straight kind of guy ? And to think Tony Blair now lectures in the US on faith and morality !
1/12/2008
Is there anyone Blair won't fawn over to ingratiate himself ?
In a speech clearly aimed at winning over French support in order for Tony Blair to become the first President of the EU, Tony Blair fawned his way through a speech to delegates from the french UMP Party, telling everyone how he loves the EU, how much he cares about Europe and how close he and President Sarkozy are.
In much the same way as Tony Blair fawned all over George Bush in order to "get in" with the neo cons in America, Blair seems to know no borders when it comes to wanting to further his own prospects.
The problem is that, as Blair's record shows, he was quite willing to sell British interests so long as he could be close to the American's, and so we joined in with America's illegal war in Iraq. I have absolutely no confidence that Blair therefore has a record on which he can stand as the EU chief. How will it look to the Middle East that Europe's warmonger in chief is the head of the EU ? How will it look to the rest of the world ?
Let's hope the EU never gets a standing army because Blair could not be trusted with it.
In much the same way as Tony Blair fawned all over George Bush in order to "get in" with the neo cons in America, Blair seems to know no borders when it comes to wanting to further his own prospects.
The problem is that, as Blair's record shows, he was quite willing to sell British interests so long as he could be close to the American's, and so we joined in with America's illegal war in Iraq. I have absolutely no confidence that Blair therefore has a record on which he can stand as the EU chief. How will it look to the Middle East that Europe's warmonger in chief is the head of the EU ? How will it look to the rest of the world ?
Let's hope the EU never gets a standing army because Blair could not be trusted with it.
12/22/2007
I know which one I prefer
As a non believer in any god of any religion, but as someone who is tolerant towards other people's views, I am so pleased it was Nick Clegg who announced he does not believe in god and Tony Blair who has become a Catholic.
Had it been that Tony Blair was not a believer, like me, and I had something in common with a pathological liar whose warmongering has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, I'd have been gutted.
As it is Tony Blair proves my point, that you don't have to be a Christian to do good, and some Christians wear as a badge, but are very far from acting in a Christian way.
Had it been that Tony Blair was not a believer, like me, and I had something in common with a pathological liar whose warmongering has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, I'd have been gutted.
As it is Tony Blair proves my point, that you don't have to be a Christian to do good, and some Christians wear as a badge, but are very far from acting in a Christian way.
Blair did interfere in BAE investigation
Remember Tony Blair saying the investigation in to fraud over the BAE contract with Saudi Arabia was dropped because of national security concerns ? Apparently just days before it was dropped, Blair raised concerns about the investigation at the very highest level.
So no surprises there. It appears wight until the end, Blair was still a liar.
So no surprises there. It appears wight until the end, Blair was still a liar.
11/25/2007
I don't see Tony Blair as a religious nut, its much worse than that
All this talk on the BBC website and blogs about Blair and his relgious views somewhat miss the point. I don't think his religious views are the problem.
The problem with Blair, and his legacy will be that he will go down in history as a warmonger, a liar and has the blood of tens of thousands on his hands. Which ever god he believes in, he'll need to pray for the rest of his life to avoid hell being his final destination.
At least he'll be there with George W Bush and Saddam Hussein. What a chat that will be !
The problem with Blair, and his legacy will be that he will go down in history as a warmonger, a liar and has the blood of tens of thousands on his hands. Which ever god he believes in, he'll need to pray for the rest of his life to avoid hell being his final destination.
At least he'll be there with George W Bush and Saddam Hussein. What a chat that will be !
10/14/2007
I am sure there is no connection between these two events ?
Tony Blair's best friend and "confidante" Lord Falconer has launched an attack on Gordon Brown's renewal of the Labour Party at exactly the same time as Gordon Brown has put on hold plans for Lord Falconer to receive a whopping pension from the government after he stood down/was sacked (delete as applicable) when Gordon Brown became PM.
When you also factor in that Falconer can barely breath in without being told first to do so by Tony Blair, it makes you wonder how he has found the courage to attack Gordon Brown without the hand of Tony being behind it.
Perhaps the thought of not becoming a rich man at the tax payers expense has loosened his tongue ?
When you also factor in that Falconer can barely breath in without being told first to do so by Tony Blair, it makes you wonder how he has found the courage to attack Gordon Brown without the hand of Tony being behind it.
Perhaps the thought of not becoming a rich man at the tax payers expense has loosened his tongue ?
9/03/2007
Have the Tories lost the confidence of the City of London ?
Amazingly the Tories think the best way to shift Labour from government is to promise to match labour's spending pledges for three years.
Students of politics will know that Labour promised something similar in 1997, but this was widely seen as a means of easing fears on the foreign exchange markets and in the City of London about Labour's relative lack of economic success when in government.
Are the Tories saying they have lost the confidence of the City of London to the extent Labour had in the 1990's ?
If so, its an shocking indictment of the modern Tory Party. The only other alternative view is that the Tories are so desperate to ape new labour circa 197 that they are adopting Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell's ideas from that period without any understanding of why labour adopted this policy themselves.
Either way, it shows a lack of political sense as it allows the press and the Lib Dems to argue - "Vote Tory, get Labour polices".
Students of politics will know that Labour promised something similar in 1997, but this was widely seen as a means of easing fears on the foreign exchange markets and in the City of London about Labour's relative lack of economic success when in government.
Are the Tories saying they have lost the confidence of the City of London to the extent Labour had in the 1990's ?
If so, its an shocking indictment of the modern Tory Party. The only other alternative view is that the Tories are so desperate to ape new labour circa 197 that they are adopting Tony Blair and Alistair Campbell's ideas from that period without any understanding of why labour adopted this policy themselves.
Either way, it shows a lack of political sense as it allows the press and the Lib Dems to argue - "Vote Tory, get Labour polices".
8/05/2007
7/26/2007
Guess who's coming to tea ?
Well done to Norman Lamb for his hard work over some years in getting out of the powers that be the list of all those guests who have been wined and dined at Chequers at our expense, as guests of Tony Blair.
The bizarre list include Vernon Kaye, Charlotte Church, Adrian Chiles and a whole host of celebrities that really leave you asking the question "What on earth were they doing there ?"
It seems that Tony Blair liked to surround himself with celebrities on order to make himself seem more important in the same way as the Beckhams have been doing in Hollywood.
I know Norman Lamb has been trying to get lists of guests for some time and Downing Street were reluctant to release lists to Norman in the run up to the 2005 election, hoping as they were that Norman would lose his North Norfolk seat and they could then hold on to the information. Quite why they were so secretive, people will have to draw their own conclusions, but as Norman says on the BBC website ;
"For reasons that defy rational explanation the government has been treating the fact that Tony Blair enjoyed drinks with Vernon Kaye and Charlotte Church as a state secret "
The bizarre list include Vernon Kaye, Charlotte Church, Adrian Chiles and a whole host of celebrities that really leave you asking the question "What on earth were they doing there ?"
It seems that Tony Blair liked to surround himself with celebrities on order to make himself seem more important in the same way as the Beckhams have been doing in Hollywood.
I know Norman Lamb has been trying to get lists of guests for some time and Downing Street were reluctant to release lists to Norman in the run up to the 2005 election, hoping as they were that Norman would lose his North Norfolk seat and they could then hold on to the information. Quite why they were so secretive, people will have to draw their own conclusions, but as Norman says on the BBC website ;
"For reasons that defy rational explanation the government has been treating the fact that Tony Blair enjoyed drinks with Vernon Kaye and Charlotte Church as a state secret "
7/24/2007
Just the man for the job
What better qualifications could you want to be an envoy to the Middle East ?After all, Tony Blair has started one war, and supported Israel in their war against Lebanon.
Oh, what's that ? He's supposed to be a PEACE envoy ... oh bugger !!!
6/28/2007
6/27/2007
Kevin McGuire on the real reason why Tony Blair is quitting as an MP
On Breakfast News on the BBC this morning Kevin McGuire claimed the real reason why Tony Blair was quitting as an MP was so he wouldn't have to declare how much money he is now going to earn.
6/26/2007
Surely some mistake - Blair to bring peace to the Middle East ?
It is harder to imagine a more inappropriate job for Tony Blair than being Middle East Peace Envoy.
With the UK and US despise across the Arab world and anyone siding with the Americans being resented, it is difficult to understand why any nation would want to deal with an envoy supported by Britain and America anyway. But with Tony Blair, Bush's poodle in the job, it makes the job even harder.
So what next ? Kim Jong Il in charge of the World Food Programme, Ahmedinijad in charge of the International Atomic Energy Authority, Mugabe in charge of the Commission for Racial Equality and Hugo Chavez in charge of the Adam Smith Institute ?
P.S. I See Lindyloo's Muze also has a good, er sorry, bad suggestion too.
With the UK and US despise across the Arab world and anyone siding with the Americans being resented, it is difficult to understand why any nation would want to deal with an envoy supported by Britain and America anyway. But with Tony Blair, Bush's poodle in the job, it makes the job even harder.
So what next ? Kim Jong Il in charge of the World Food Programme, Ahmedinijad in charge of the International Atomic Energy Authority, Mugabe in charge of the Commission for Racial Equality and Hugo Chavez in charge of the Adam Smith Institute ?
P.S. I See Lindyloo's Muze also has a good, er sorry, bad suggestion too.
5/11/2007
Was Gordon Brown's autocue problem a positive sign for him ?
Gordon brown has promised more substance and less presentation if he becomes Labour Leader, and surely the autocue problems today highlight this clearer than he could have hoped.
Despite the fact that it was a clear cock-up, was it altogether that bad ? After all, his speech was actually quite good, he spoke with passion and feeling, in a way I have
not heard him speak before. I actually felt that a lot of time and effort (probably 13 years of time and effort since Blair became leader) had gone in to it and yes, although the autocue thing might have been a problem, it did say to me that it was the least of his worries.
You just know that Blair's team would have been fretting over the autocue, camera positions and press in a way that Gordon Brown's people wouldn't.
So I don't think it was all that bad, and in many ways, I actually see it as a positive sign.
Despite the fact that it was a clear cock-up, was it altogether that bad ? After all, his speech was actually quite good, he spoke with passion and feeling, in a way I have
not heard him speak before. I actually felt that a lot of time and effort (probably 13 years of time and effort since Blair became leader) had gone in to it and yes, although the autocue thing might have been a problem, it did say to me that it was the least of his worries.You just know that Blair's team would have been fretting over the autocue, camera positions and press in a way that Gordon Brown's people wouldn't.
So I don't think it was all that bad, and in many ways, I actually see it as a positive sign.
5/10/2007
Tony Blair's Legacy as told by today's news events
What is Blair's legacy ? I thought I'd look at the news and internet to see what is happening today to see what he has achieved through his policies and looking at issues covered in various Labour pledge cards.
.1) A stable economy and low mortgages ? Well, interest rates are up today , house price inflation is so out of control in parts of the country that people are having to be lent seven times their salary in order to get on the property ladder and inflation is on the rise.
.2) 24 Hours to save the NHS ? Today it has been reported that Tony Blair's pledge to end mixed sex wards had proved to be a false one whilst also in the news today is the startling fact that the UK lags behind the rest of Europe when it comes to cancer treatments.
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3) Your family safer ?I note that the terror threat level today is "severe". I don't recall a need for a terrorist threat level in 1997 and I think that most people will agree that Blair's war in Iraq has raised the threat to UK families. This on the day that more time has been granted to UK police to question UK citizens regarding the 7/7 bombings. 4) The UK respected abroad and an ethical foreign policy ? One word - Iraq. Today's news of the lawlessness is as bleak as ever.
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5) Defending our borders - Today the government has been criticised for the way the UK armed forces are treated after conflicts. The all party group of MP's put the blame for this squarely at the government's feet.
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6) Tough on crime. Tough on the causes of crime ! And today the government is letting prisoners be released early and giving advice that shorter sentences should be set. Soft on criminals, soft on the punishments for criminals.
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So in the news today, some views on Blair's legacy to today's generation. What his legacy will mean in 10 years time is still unclear, but to me it will always be defined by that word ... Iraq.
5/03/2007
Blair's legacy - An unethical foreign policy
Another irony of the ending of the Blair years is that his Party claimed when it came to power that it wanted an "ethical foreign policy". And of course the irony is that a British company (British Aerospace) are being investigated by multiple foreign government whist the UK government tries to sweep allegations of bribery and corruption by BAE when dealing with foreign government under the table.
So not only a war to remember Blair by, but a footnote about Britain being made to look like the land of the corrupt and greedy. Thanks a bunch Mr Blair !
So not only a war to remember Blair by, but a footnote about Britain being made to look like the land of the corrupt and greedy. Thanks a bunch Mr Blair !
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