Blair's Betrayal (The British socialist embraces the French weasel and the UN to boot)

FrontPage Magazine ^ | April 17, 2003 | Unknown

[conservativecorner]

Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac on Wednesday began mapping out a role for the United Nations in postwar Iraq, as Europe's leaders tried to put the divisions caused by the crisis behind them.

Europe's leaders embarked on a frenetic round of bridge-mending at the EU summit in Athens, aimed at showing that they were prepared to play a full role in rebuilding Iraq.

Foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Russia were on Wednesday night attempting to agree a detailed plan of action with Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general.

Mr. Chirac, the French president, acknowledged that U.S. and British forces had to stabilise the situation before the UN could be sent in.

In his first meeting with Mr. Blair since the first day of the war, the two leaders held what were described as "serious but amiable" talks in the courtyard of the 19th century Zappeion Hall.

Later Mr. Chirac announced that the European Union would in the next few days launch a humanitarian airlift operation to bring out injured Iraqis, particularly children, for hospital treatment in the west.

"Issue by issue, we have to find the right balance between the role of the UN, which must be the essential role, and the role of American and British forces on the ground," said Mr Chirac's spokeswoman.

Mr. Chirac's increased engagement in the postwar Iraq situation was seen by EU diplomats as an attempt to reduce the risk of France becoming isolated in Europe.

On Tuesday Gerhard Schröder, German chancellor, held talks with Mr. Blair that British diplomats described as "excellent" and a sign that he was returning to the Atlanticist fold.

Mr. Chirac's sense of potential isolation will have been heightened at Wednesday's summit when the accession treaty for 10 new EU members was signed, most of them pro-U.S. former Communist states.

But it remains clear that the deep ideological divide in Europe will take some time to heal, with Mr. Chirac continuing to push his wish to create an EU role as a counterbalance to U.S. power.

"Europe is about a collective ambition, shared disciplines, firm solidarity and naturally looking to the European family," he said at the treaty signing ceremony.

The ceremony itself marks the culmination of the EU enlargement process, which began almost immediately after the collapse of the Berlin Wall.

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta will join the EU in May 2004 after the treaty has been ratified.

But the accession of the new member states, nearly all of them small in terms of population, has opened up the prospect of a new big-small divide opening up in Europe.

In talks on the future of Europe on Wednesday, virtually all of the smaller countries spoke out against the idea of creating a powerful new EU president, although the idea is backed by all of the bigger nations.

[anniegetyourgun]

"But the accession of the new member states, nearly all of them small in terms of population, has opened up the prospect of a new big-small divide opening up in Europe."

Gee, ya' think?

[TLBSHOW]

what did you expect from a socialist friend of Clintons!

[sarasota]

I'm assuming that Blair is acting as referee in the EU since he knows these guys and wants to do his bit to bring more help to Iraq. Will be interesting to see how his efforts unfold. Someone has to be the "good guy" (or bad guy, depending on your point of view). Bush, it seems, may therefore be seen as the "bad guy" in this regard. But like parenting, we each take a turn (good to bad to good and so on). I'm withholding judgment for now.

[KeyWest]

A bit disingenuous. So far there have been many articles contradicting each other.

Personally, I will listen when I hear the voice from the burning Bush.

[Cincinatus]

I don't see this as a "betrayal." Blair has commitments to the EU and he is merely following his own long-established policy. The UK allied themselves with us for the purpose of removing Saddam (and we thank them for that support!) However, they are a sovereign nation (at least until full EU federal union kicks in!) and are perfectly free to pursue policies in their own perceived interest, just as we are.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Oh, geez - I wish some of the mouth foamers would GROW THE HELL UP. The guy stuck himself out on a limb, has risked everything, to help us out - and is more adept at addressing the practicalities as they exist for him and for Britain than the lip mover who anonymously scribbled this dreck can ever understand.

[Mamzelle]

Good grief, it sure doesn't take long for us to turn on someone who's taken considerable political risk to help us! What are we, *French*?

The EU and UN are going to court Britain for one reason--they know that the Brits have some "pull" with us. Let them court. That enhances Blair's prestige, and we want him with more influence than Chiraq. The EU and UN are just gnats, buzzing--they have only the power we choose to give them.

We should be pushing for a very hard bargain, since we hold all the chips. Let them caterwaul--it got them nothing in the past---

[mewzilla]

France's embassy in Damascus is apparently having its visa section burning the midnight oil. Sounds like Le Worm may have some more 'splainin' to do...

[wretchard]

Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac on Wednesday began mapping out a role for the United Nations in postwar Iraq, as Europe's leaders tried to put the divisions caused by the crisis behind them.

This is the start of a steel-cage death match between Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac for the leadership of the EU. Schroeder is too weak and pathetic to be in the running. Any concessions or participation in Iraq by Europe will come, courtesty of Blair. Any access to Washington will be via Downing Street, not the Elysee. This is the start of the invasion of the Brussels Club by the Outsiders. The UK was the ultimate EU outsider -- outside the currency and outside the charmed Franco-German circle of power. Now, with 10 new Eastern European members and fresh from his triumph in Iraq, Blair is set to put his stamp on the EU.

For now, Chirac will limp gamely along, smiling as if he were still in charge, but he is being led by nose in shame and degradation.

[Winniesboy]

As an Englishman, I was going to post a pretty cross reply to the 'betrayal' charge until I saw the wise comments from Cincinatus. Blair leads an independent country, not the 51st state. The geographical and economic realities of the UK mean that he has no choice (unlike Bush, who can take it or leave it) but to resume some kind of cordial working relationship with the rest of the EU. Blair's a clever man, but even he can't hang an outboard on the coast somewhere near Hull and sail these islands 3000 mile west (carefully avoiding Ireland en route), to anchor somewhere off New Jersey. The more sensible among his many American admirers realise this.

[ImphClinton]

Furthermore all France will ever get to do in Iraq is provide food and medicine. There will be no greater role. Let him pretend this makes them important we all know it doesn't.

[trebb]

I hesitate to call our best friend in the whole freakin' world a traitor. Let's not forget the wonderful speeches he gave in gaining world support for our going into Afghanistan and again for Iraq. He took all kinds of heat so we could do what we needed to do and now he has his own damage control to do. I agree that we can't make too many concessions and end up rewarding the weasels for their treachery, but we can't condemn Tony for doing what he needs to do. Get off the guy's case for Pete's sake...

[Grampa Dave]

I notice that who ever wrote this BS didn't have the balls to put his name on this trash.

Makes one wonder how much Syria and Iran paid this pos to write this BS!

Ivan, you are pinged to comment on this trash posing as news.

[crz]

Pure crap! He not only can reform the American-Anglo allaince if he wants to, but he might have to after the French get done sticking it to the Brits.
You forget that all financial transactions are now done over electronic means, which means the world is a smaller place and distances are not an object to overcome anymore. The idea that the UK has more in common with the European continent is assinine to say the least. What does the UK have in common with Europe? The same language? The violent history? That Britain was once ruled by the Italians? What? Not one dam thing has the UK in common, any more than Europa has in common with the UK. All this is about is trying to gain more power by someone who seems to have POWER as his own personal adgenda.
You give in to the EU and you will LOOSE every bit of your identity and become the slaves to those like the French and Germans and Russians who are licking their chops to do just such a thing.

[Destro]

The way these Neo-cons sound about betrayal, etc reminds me of the Stalin treason trails --- which of course makes sense seeing as the neo-cons are Marxists in origin.

I see why people under these ideologues were purged en - mass. The smallest deviation from the party line is seen as a threat-as treason, etc.

Thank God we have no gulags...not yet anyway.

[PhiKapMom]

Right on the money! Do you think this is FINALLY going to change the perception of Blair on here?

[TLBSHOW]

Right on the money!

Do you think this is FINALLY going to change the perception of Blair on here?


The perception of many here is scary as of late....Anyone that wants to call socialist Blair good, is a rat!

[conservativecorner]

I agree with you on many points, but does it do the US any good to win the war only to have the frogs and germans (weasels) having a say in Iraq? We had our defining moment before the war, and now the frogs and germans can go to hell.

[Cathryn Crawford]

Holy crap! Let's all beat the hell out of him for looking out for his own interests!

C'mon, people, I'm no bleeding heart, but he really put himself over a barrel standing by us - he nearly lost everything - let's give him a break, okay?

Nobody was calling him names when he was supporting us in the UN - let's give it at least a few more days before we turn on him completely.