November 8, 2002. Copyright, 2002, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Key players in Middle East melting pot: Tony Blair, Britain
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, November 8, Graphic News:  Tony Blair has backed President Bush to the hilt on his campaign to oust Saddam, whom, reflecting BushÕs cowboy metaphor, he has called Òan international outlaw.Ó Though Blair has sounded more comfortable describing the Iraqi leader as Òan extremely dangerous manÓ and a Òserial breaker of promisesÓ, the British Prime Minister is by no means squeamish about going to war. He has provided a 50-page dossier on IraqÕs chemical weapons programme, and supported U.S. claims that there are links between Baghdad and the Al-Qaeda network. His stance has dismayed EU partners and many within his own Labour Party, whose calls for a referendum Blair has refused. BlairÕs statements are often infused with religion: he talks of restoring ÒmoralÓ order to the world, inviting comparisons with Gladstone. Other commentators say he is more reminiscent of a bellicose Churchill. What are BlairÕs deeper motives? In an interview the Prime Minister said he agreed with Lyndon JohnsonÕs statement that Britain must pay a Òblood priceÓ to secure its Òspecial relationshipÓ with the United States. His backing of Bush has exposed rifts in the EU and lost him support at home, but even opponents of war acknowledge that there might be something to be gained from him having BushÕs ear. After the war in Afghanistan, for example, it was Blair who insisted on a rebuilding programme. Privately, it is said, Blair urges Bush to take the UN route on Iraq. A key difference between the two is that Blair appears to acknowledge the bigger picture in the Middle East, and the need to make progress on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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