Bush Makes Blair Jump Through The Hoops

[kpete]

Blair Bowed to U.S. Pressure in Speech, Paper Says
British Leader Said to Make 'Significant' Changes on Iran, Global Warming in Address at Georgetown

By Kevin Sullivan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, May 29, 2006; Page A16

LONDON, May 29 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair caved in to White House pressure by sharpening language on Iran and softening it on global warming in a speech he delivered Friday at Georgetown University, according to a British press report Sunday that Blair's office immediately denied.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, Blair made "significant" last-minute changes to his major foreign policy address and that "objections by President George W. Bush's inner circle played a key role in the alterations." An official at Blair's 10 Downing Street office, speaking on condition of anonymity as is standard practice here, said it was "categorically untrue that any White House objective played any part" in the speech.

Blair is frequently criticized in Britain for his close relationship with Bush, who is extremely unpopular among Britons. The prime minister is particularly faulted for his alliance with Bush in the Iraq war. Critics have complained that Blair seems too eager to please Bush in what many here view as a lopsided relationship that has benefited Bush far more than Britain.

The newspaper, citing anonymous British sources, said aides to Blair told journalists three hours before the speech that Blair intended to say that "change should not be imposed" on Iran in the current dispute over its nuclear ambitions. The newspaper said the line reflected "the British view that bombing or invading Iran is not a realistic option."

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/28/AR2006052800528.html

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. Sit, Tony! Good boy! Now roll over! Gooooood Tony!

And here's your Poodle Treat! Now, go lie down in the corner...