re: what is tony blair getting out of his support ?
1. At this point, Blair is committed. He's like a poker player, who'se already put all his money on the table, so he can't fold, even if he now realises he's got a losing hand. He has invested all his political capital in Bush's war. Sec. of State Powell is in a similar situation.
2. In 1914, England lost her position as the world's dominant imperial power. Ever since then, they have tied their fortunes to the U.S. By being Tonto to our Lone Ranger, they can pretend they are still a Power in the world. They miss the GoodOldDays, when they could bully the chinks and niggers and towelheads, and Kipling would write beautiful poems so they'd feel good about it.
3. The UK and US share a language and culture. It's tribal solidarity.
4. Bush promised Blair a Palestinian State, and a Road Map to Mideast peace. Then Bush let Sharon ignore Israel's Road Map obligations (dismantling settlements, no incitement, no more killings). So Blair didn't get what he was promised.
5. I doubt it's anything tawdry and mundane like contracts, or any other crude bribery.
ps; In an effort at following the Quaker Testimony of Simplicity, I turned off my TV, permanently. |
