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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hdl who wrote (18307)	9/5/2002 9:26:50 AM
From: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 27706

Blair's cowboy stance 'sending a message' Fashion pundits say British PM 'ready to go for the gun' Joseph Brean National Post nationalpost.com{2E1746C6-93F6-4D76-BE42-E4687F46954B} Thursday, September 05, 2002 Reuters Fashion industry experts have jumped on this picture of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, who they say deliberately emulated the favoured 'gunslinger' stance of George W. Bush, the U.S. President, as a sign of support for an impending military strike against Iraq. ADVERTISEMENT George W. Bush's gunslinger style seems to be catching on with Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister. In front of photographers this week, Mr. Blair struck what various fashion pundits described yesterday as the "John Wayne thumbrest." This time-honoured, cocksure pose -- which relies on the front-facing pockets of the working man's blue jeans --makes the poser seem "cool, heroic, confident and sexy," but always ready to draw and fire, they said. "Those hands are ready to go for the gun," said Anne Sowden, a Toronto-based corporate image consultant. Mr. Blair is Mr. Bush's main ally among world leaders for the military action he has sought against Iraq unless weapons inspectors are allowed into the Middle Eastern country. Mr. Blair has been criticized in Britain for signing on too quickly to a plan that lacks United Nations approval. The cowboy pose was held up yesterday as an example of his sycophancy. "It's sending another message that he supports Bush," Ms. Sowden said. "He's trying to emulate the gunslinger stance, but I think he's missed the boat." His shirt is coming untucked, he is showing too much cuff, and he generally looks stiff compared to Mr. Bush, she said. She likened Mr. Blair's apparent effort to style himself a Texan to his recent plans to purchase a prime ministerial jet, which the British press has dubbed "Blair Force One" after Mr. Bush's plane, Air Force One. "Here he is, Savile Row meets the Wild West," joked Fashion Television host Jeanne Beker, who was less willing to criticize Mr. Blair, whom she finds "cute." Mr. Bush, she said, "looks like a Ralph Lauren ad wannabe." © Copyright 2002 National Post