Bush wants warmongering partner in crime from across the pond to be his 'peacemaker' in Middle East

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Bush eyes Blair for role as peace negotiator

Helene Cooper in Washington
June 22, 2007

THE US is pressing the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to become a special envoy to the Middle East, in an attempt to lay the groundwork for a Palestinian state.

If the peace proposal, backed by the US President, George Bush, and the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is accepted, and if Mr Blair, who leaves office next week, accepts, he would work on behalf of the US, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. The US assistant secretary of state for near east affairs, David Welch, met Mr Blair in London on Wednesday to make the case, a senior Bush Administration official said. Mr Welch, the official said, would not be in London "if there weren't some seriousness to this".

Mr Bush has spoken to Mr Blair about the proposal, and discussed it on Tuesday with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. Mr Olmert was keen on the idea, Israeli officials said.

However, publicly the White House has declined to confirm Mr Blair's role. A White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, said: "Obviously, Blair has been very active and deeply involved in Middle East peace issues throughout his prime ministership … but we don't have anything to announce today."

British officials said Mr Blair had yet to decide whether he would take on any role.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bush-eyes-blair-for-role-as-peace-negotiator/2007/06/21/1182019286587.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. Woof! Woof! Woof!