LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a withering attack on Thursday on what he called "mad anti-Americanism" among European politicians.
Blair, U.S. President George W. Bush's closest ally in the so-called war on terror, said the world urgently needs the United States to help tackle the globe's most pressing problems.
"The danger is if they decide to pull up the drawbridge and disengage. We need them involved," Blair said, spelling out his political vision in a pamphlet published by The Foreign Policy Center think-tank.
"The strain of, frankly, anti-American feeling in parts of European politics is madness when set against the long-term interests of the world we believe in," he said.
Blair, accused by critics of being Bush's poodle who slavishly follows Washington's line, sought to stifle a revolt in his ruling Labour Party last week by promising to quit within a year after almost 10 years in office.
His popularity has tumbled in opinion polls after government scandals over sleaze and mismanagement were compounded by controversy over the wars in
Iraq and Lebanon.
As he did during the Iraq War, he sided squarely with Washington over the conflict between
Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas, angering Arab nations and European allies by refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire.
Responding to those who have criticized the White House, Blair said in his pamphlet: "The danger with America today is not that they are too much involved."
"We want them engaged. The reality is that none of the problems that press in on us can be resolved or even contemplated without them," he added.
Laying out his vision for countering extremists, he said: "We need to construct an alliance of moderation that paints a future in which Muslim, Jew and Christian, Arab and Western, wealthy and developing nations can make progress in peace and harmony with each other."
Blair, returning from a trip to the Middle East, said the stand-off between Israel and the Palestinians remains "a -- perhaps the -- genuine source of anger in the Arab and Muslim world, going far beyond anti-Western feeling."
"The issue of even-handedness rankles deeply," he acknowledged.
Blair pledged to making Middle East "an absolute priority for the rest of my time in office."
But analysts believe his efforts are unlikely to break the logjam there, nor restore his reputation. His trip smacked of an attempt to burnish his reputation as his career draws to a close, they argue.
"He is not as instrumental as he needs to be, or would like to believe he is," said Rosemary Hollis, a Middle East expert at British think-tank Chatham House.
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a withering attack on Thursday on what he called "mad anti-Americanism" among European politicians.
Blair, U.S. President George W. Bush's closest ally in the so-called war on terror, said the world urgently needs the United States to help tackle the globe's most pressing problems.
"The danger is if they decide to pull up the drawbridge and disengage. We need them involved," Blair said, spelling out his political vision in a pamphlet published by The Foreign Policy Center think-tank.
So true, very nicely worded
The first duty of a patriot is to question the government
Kylere wrote:Umm picking on him because it came in a pamphlet can only be done by people without any knowledge of history.
But his only salient point is that Europe will pay the price if the US becomes isolationist. I agree with that, look at WW1 and WW2.
I don't really think it's a question of "if" but "when" at the moment.
I actually like being (basically) on the same side as the US, but you've pissed so many resources away in Iraq you will have to pull your heads in eventually.
May 2003 - "Mission Accomplished"
June 2005 - "The mission isn't easy, and it will not be accomplished overnight"
-- G W Bush, freelance writer for The Daily Show.
I hate agreeing with Zaelath, but in this case I do. But I would debate the level of resouce expenditure in Iraq, but it would be quibbling rather than decisive.
She Dreams in Digital
\"Led Zeppelin taught an entire generation of young men how to make love, if they just listen\"- Michael Reed(2005)
Winnow wrote:...sunshine and "British" in the same sentence. Is that legal?
It was back in '76, but that was probably the whole decades supply.
*Hugs*
Varia
I'll have you know we've just had the hottest July on record (14 days of 100-ish degree in there somewhere as well) AND set the new record for highest temperature ever recorded. . .
. . .of course this was then followed by a record-breaking wet August
I'd rather see America's next president being a person who is more wise and beneficial person... then if the next pm was still a spineless follower, he'd at least be following someone with decency.
All British prime ministers from now until forever will be our fuck toys. Don't make us liberate you too!
"There is at least as much need to curb the cruel greed and arrogance of part of the world of capital, to curb the cruel greed and violence of part of the world of labor, as to check a cruel and unhealthy militarism in international relationships." -Theodore Roosevelt
Late 1700's United States vs. British Empire U.S. 1 England 0
1812 United States vs British Empire U.S. 2 England 0
Early 1900's England and the rest of europe are being fited for nice new helmets with pointy ends. United States enters war you are saved.
1940's Looks like England will soon have to aquire a taste for Brats and Saurkraut, United States enters War to let you keep on enjoying Fish and Chips.
You do realise that the people who went to the USA and created it at the time were in large part made up of Irish people - and amongst those were the people who beat back the British?
Nick wrote:You do realise that the people who went to the USA and created it at the time were in large part made up of Irish people - and amongst those were the people who beat back the British?
I swear geting through the Bozone that protects your brain is futile. Who gives a fuck who they were, they still as a country kicked Englands ass.
Nick wrote:You do realise that the people who went to the USA and created it at the time were in large part made up of Irish people - and amongst those were the people who beat back the British?
I swear geting through the Bozone that protects your brain is futile. Who gives a fuck who they were, they still as a country kicked Englands ass.
Nick wrote:You do realise that the people who went to the USA and created it at the time were in large part made up of Irish people - and amongst those were the people who beat back the British?
I swear geting through the Bozone that protects your brain is futile. Who gives a fuck who they were, they still as a country kicked Englands ass.
The part of my bloodline that is Irish is ashamed of Nick, but considering I am a descendant of Brian Boru I will let it pass. Especially since I am entirely ashamed of the European part of my heritage.
Ireland is a wonderful country, and I do not judge it by Nick anymore than anyone should judge the US by Midnyte or Canada by Kyoukan.
She Dreams in Digital
\"Led Zeppelin taught an entire generation of young men how to make love, if they just listen\"- Michael Reed(2005)
Kylere wrote:Reading comprehension around here is at an all time low.
It must be since I read the following like 6 times and it still made no sense to me.
Kylere wrote:The part of my bloodline that is Irish is ashamed of Nick, (ashamed) but considering I am a descendant of Brian Boru I will let it pass (proud). Especially since I am entirely ashamed of the European part of my heritage. (ashamed)
Ireland is a wonderful country, (proud) and I do not judge it by Nick anymore than anyone should judge the US by Midnyte or Canada by Kyoukan.
Maybe things look clearer from high horses...
Laneela
You may take our lives, but you will never take our trousers!
Hey Laneela, obviously you have no idea the the Irish have been treated as badly by the Brits as the Brits treated all others. Therefore I am forgiving of Nicks rants sometimes as it regards Ireland.
Besides which, that was not even the relevant point. So yeah, my statement still stands.
She Dreams in Digital
\"Led Zeppelin taught an entire generation of young men how to make love, if they just listen\"- Michael Reed(2005)
The U.S. didn't really win 1812. It was more of a "this war is going on for so long, and Napoleon is really pissing us off back home, so let's leave." The Brits had much larger things on their plate than the US, which still at that time couldn't have launched an invasion of Britain. As I recall, they burned our capital, and then decided to leave.
Kaldaur wrote:The U.S. didn't really win 1812. It was more of a "this war is going on for so long, and Napoleon is really pissing us off back home, so let's leave." The Brits had much larger things on their plate than the US, which still at that time couldn't have launched an invasion of Britain. As I recall, they burned our capital, and then decided to leave.
You can't blame us for their strategic errors. S C O R E B O A R D !
