Blair's secret war meetings with Clinton

Guardian Unlimited ^ | April 25, 2003 | Patrick Wintour

[Living Free in NH]

Tony Blair took repeated secret advice from the former American president Bill Clinton on how to unlock the diplomatic impasse between Europe and the US in the build-up to the war on Iraq, the Guardian can reveal.

In the crucial weekend before to the final breakdown of diplomacy in March, Mr Clinton was a guest of Mr Blair's at Chequers where the pair discussed the crisis.

Mr Blair was battling to persuade the Chilean president Ricardo Lagos - a key figure on the security council - to back a second UN resolution setting a new deadline for Saddam to cooperate fully with the UN or face military action.

Three days after his Chequers meeting, Mr Clinton made a rare public appeal to his successor, George Bush, to give the UN weapons inspectors more time.

Mr Blair and Mr Clinton met at least three times to discuss the war, underlining the extent to which Mr Blair rates Mr Clinton's analytical powers, despite the bond of trust he has also formed with the Republican White House.

The two men met on the weekend of March 8, the weekend during which Clare Short, the international development secretary, exploded a grenade by accusing the prime minister of running a reckless policy towards Iraq.

In a speech in Washington three days later Mr Clinton said the UN's chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, should set the timetable for compliance, adding: "I hope the United States would agree to that amount of time, whatever it is."

Mr Clinton was careful to say that Mr Bush was sincere in his pursuit of UN support, but added: "The question is, do they want the support bad enough to let Mr Blix finish his work and give enough time to do that?"

At that point, Mr Blair had been pressing the US in private to extend a deadline by which Saddam would have to shown to be cooperating with the UN.

Mr Blair and Mr Clinton had a warm, mutually supportive relationship during the latter's presidency. After the election of Mr Bush, Downing Street aides were anxious to maintain the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. Private polling for No 10 during the build-up to war showed hostility towards Mr Bush among British voters and Labour MPs, who disliked his language and manner.

At the time of Mr Clinton's private visit to Chequers, Mr Blair was very close to winning the agreement of the Chileans to British proposals.

The prime minister was so desperate to secure Chilean support that he told Mr Lagos that he was prepared to make the 7,230-mile journey to Santiago to clinch the support of the first centre-left leader of Chile since Salvador Allende.

In practice, Mr Blair would not have made the 35-hour round trip unless he could be sure that he would not be returning empty-handed and humiliated.

The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, had also expressed a willingness to travel to Chile, hoping that his earlier decision to arrest General Augusto Pinochet had given him some personal influence in the former dictator's country.

British efforts to secure a deal were scuppered when the French president, Jacques Chirac, gave a television interview saying he would veto a resolution authorising war whatever the circumstances.

Mr Blair followed up the interview with a private call to Mr Chirac, in which the French president said he would not tolerate any resolution that contained an ultimatum to Saddam.

Commenting on Mr Chirac's television performance, the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, told the Guardian: "He blew it. If he had said 'let's look at it again in two months time', we would have been in much greater difficulty."

[The G Man]

Call me cynical ... but can't help but think this story comes straight from the self serving lips of Der Schlickmeister.

[The Great RJ]

I wonder how President Clinton would have reacted if Bush 41 had been involved in secret meetings with our European allies during during Kosovo and Bosnia?

[HELLRAISER II]

I understand why Blair might want counsel from someone who's been there but BILL CLINTON? Come on Tony BILL CLINTON is the SCREW UP of all Presidents. Why didn't you talk to Margaret Thatcher, she's someone who would've given you good strong advice. BILL CLINTON is an idiot.

[Semper Paratus]

That explains why the European/UN diplomacy was gummed up.

[Frapster]

I seem to remember a day when Bush and Blair had a joint news conference and Bush seemed particularly peeved that day. Peeved at Blair in fact - it was the day they were running late for a conference... who knows but it sure wouldn't surprise me if Bush gave Tony a dressing down over that.

[Kathleen]

Ping!

[timestax]

Call me cynical ... but can't help but think this story comes straight from the self serving lips of Der Schlickmeister. 2 posted on 04/25/2003 6:21 AM PDT by The G Man (Hey CNN ... "NO BLOOD FOR RATINGS!!!")

BINGO ! sounds like one of clintoons' lies!

[duzystopa]

You are so right. I agree wholeheartedly.

[ladtx]

Tony Blair took repeated secret advice from the former American president Bill Clinton on how to unlock the diplomatic impasse between Europe and the US...

Well, that worked really well too, didn't it? No wonder we had such problems with the French, Germans, and Russians.

[N. Theknow]

This was after he told Moses where to look for a burning bush, told George Washington where he should cross the Delaware, loaned John Hancock his ballpoint pen, told DDE where to invade Europe and defined "is" in 3000 words.

[b4its2late]

Clinton is still attempting to build some sort of legacy.

NEWS FLASH - It ain't working.

[Dudoight]

Secret meetings with Blair, secret lunch with Chretein, it makes me wonder if one or both Clintons might have had a secret dinner meeting with Saddam (pre-war). Saddam may be safe in the basement of the NY or Georgetown Clinton abode. Who knows....? Anything goes with that pair.

[The G Man]

I wonder how much money Terry McAulliffe raked in over the years from the DNC's Baghdad headquarters?

[Normal4me]

No wonder he hasn't started his book yet, he's still trying to play predident.

[Lockbox]

Time for Bill to do one last think for his country................

Send him to N. Korea and tell him not to come back till all the nukes are gone. This should keep him busy for a long period of time.

[CaptRon]

Three days after his Chequers meeting, Mr Clinton made a rare public appeal to his successor

Rare for other former Presidents but not for the Narcissist in Chief.

[dirtboy]

Tony Blair took repeated secret advice from the former American president Bill Clinton on how to unlock the diplomatic impasse between Europe and the US in the build-up to the war on Iraq, the Guardian can reveal.

I see Clinton's advice was as effective as it usually is...

[mystery-ak]

The rapist is still chasing the Nobel Peace Prize....LOL..if his little plan had worked, imagine his victory tour..

[Alberta's Child]

FYI.