Posted on 02/08/2004 2:54:47 AM PST by ejdrapes
BLAIR IN PUSH FOR BUSH SECOND TERM TONY Blair is to make a controversial visit to Washington to boost President Bush's campaign for a second term in the White House. The Prime Minister has decided that a defeat for his close coalition partner in the November US presidential election would damage his own chances of re-election in Britain. And he has privately told aides that the election of an American leader who opposed the war in Iraq could jeopardise the special relationship between Britain and the US. The trip is expected to go ahead before the summer, a critical time in the presidential race which has already started. Mr Blair believes victory by a Democrat critic of the war over Republican Mr Bush would reflect on his premiership as a rejection of the Iraq campaign. Democrat front-runner Senator John Kerry has piled pressure on Mr Bush over the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, though he supported the conflict at the time. His main rivals for the Democratic nomination, Howard Dean, is a clear opponent of the war. Mr Blair is feted in America, where he is praised as a strong leader who stood by the United States at a time of crisis. His presence beside Mr Bush during what is expected to be a five-day tour would shore up the President's public image and remind voters of the coalition victory which brought down Saddam Hussein. Mr Blair will not take part in any direct electioneering, but his presence at such a critical time for Mr Bush could have a significant effect on voters. The visit, which has been pencilled in for the Spring, will go ahead in spite of Mr Bush's surprise decision to announce an investigation into the accuracy of intelligence about WMDs before the Iraq invasion. It left an embarrassed Mr Blair with no choice but to set up an inquiry into the reliability of British intelligence. Diplomatic rules forbid a leader from one country getting involved in the politics of another. Former President Bill Clinton was incensed when he discovered that the Tories had been involved in helping his Republican opponents in his first election campaign for the White House. They were said to have supplied "black propaganda" about his days at Oxford, including allegations he smoked cannabis. A spokesman for Number 10 said the PM's travel plans were never publicly discussed in advance. "But we never get involved in another country's internal political affairs."
He plans US trip to boost President's re-election
Blair has known for years (like our Presidents have) that the middle East sitiation is a danger to all Western and developing countries. Britain can't do much about it on their own. When Bush took over and had the same determination to do something about it, he saw his opportunity.
The two of them are forever linked in the war on terror. They need each other. And we need them to finish the job.
LOL!
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