"Shut up and listen George!" says Tony...

[p_p_man]

From today's Guardian:

Listen to the world's fears, Blair tells US

Michael White and Ewen MacAskill
Wednesday January 8, 2003
The Guardian

"Tony Blair yesterday warned President George Bush to "listen back" to the international community's fears over Iraq and other global concerns or risk "pent-up feelings of injustice and alienation" pushing mainstream world opinion into the anti-US corner."

Source: The Guardian

Do you think George will do such an uncharacteristic thing?...

Nahhh...only in my dreams...



ppman

 

[Lost Cause]

Tony probably got...

Dubya's answering machine. I swear, if he doesn't quit bothering the President, we'll slap a restraining order on him!

 

[Cherry]

You conveniently forgot to mention this Blair quote from the same article:

"I am not surprised by anti-Americanism, but it is a foolish indulgence," he added. "For all their faults - and all nations have them - the US is a force for good."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,870491,00.html

 

[bluespoke]

You conveniently forgot to mention this Blair quote from the same article:

"I am not surprised by anti-Americanism, but it is a foolish indulgence," he added. "For all their faults - and all nations have them - the US is a force for good."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,870491,00.html

Don't worry Cherry, some of us are not so selectivie.

 

[Don K Dyck]

From today's Guardian:

Listen to the world's fears, Blair tells US

Michael White and Ewen MacAskill
Wednesday January 8, 2003
The Guardian

"Tony Blair yesterday warned President George Bush to "listen back" to the international community's fears over Iraq and other global concerns or risk "pent-up feelings of injustice and alienation" pushing mainstream world opinion into the anti-US corner."

Source: The Guardian

Do you think George will do such an uncharacteristic thing?... Nahhh...only in my dreams... ppman

But ppman . . . surely Dubyah Shrub will listen to the internastional community . . . and then do exactly what his puppet masters want . . . make an Imperialist U$-Iraq War for the Control of Undeveloped Middle East Oil Resources.

 

[Guest]

 

[p_p_man]

You conveniently forgot to mention this Blair quote from the same article:

"I am not surprised by anti-Americanism, but it is a foolish indulgence," he added. "For all their faults - and all nations have them - the US is a force for good."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,870491,00.html

No, I didn't forget. My quote was the main thrust of the article, yours was a small diplomatic aside...

ppman

 

[Cherry]

... yours was a small diplomatic aside

You should try a little diplomacy sometime ... it might make you appear a little less obsessive, singleminded, ignorant and incredulous.

 

[Guest]

 

[p_p_man]

You should try a little diplomacy sometime

Naah, I retired from that game some time ago..I found it too boring...



ppman

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Re: "Shut up and listen George!" says Tony...

But ppman . . . surely Dubyah Shrub will listen to the internastional community . . . and then do exactly what his puppet masters want . . . make an Imperialist U$-Iraq War for the Control of Undeveloped Middle East Oil Resources.

Another comment he made yesterday which I thought was hilarious was when he was talking about the whys and wherefores of 'liberating' Iraq he said something like he expects people to keep their word when they give it...



ppman

 

[REDWAVE]

Blair growing balls?

Tony had better be careful-- Dubya might banish him from his lap.

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Blair growing balls?

Tony had better be careful-- Dubya might banish him from his lap.

With opposition to the 'liberation' as strong as ever in the UK, and signs that it's getting stronger, coupled with the world's uneasiness at Bush's motives for this phoney war, Blair is just keeping himself sweet with everyone else without terminally cutting off his support for Bush.

He needs both parties to help him become the President of Europe when that office is created...

ppman

 

[REDWAVE]

Say it isn't so!

Blair the President (or PM) of Europe? Quelle horreur! I can see Schroeder in that position a lot more easily-- he's closer to the center of European politics than Blair.

About the only good thing I can say about Blair is he'd be better than Chirac, Berlusconi, or Aznar.

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Say it isn't so!

Blair the President (or PM) of Europe? Quelle horreur! I can see Schroeder in that position a lot more easily-- he's closer to the center of European politics than Blair.

About the only good thing I can say about Blair is he'd be better than Chirac, Berlusconi, or Aznar.

Sorry Red, I can't say it isn't so. It's been an open secret in the UK for a couple of years now. The game plan is that he will stand down as PM allowing Gordon Brown the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the man he beat for the leadership of the party to replace him.

The EU committee at the moment in session to decide on a draft Constitution for Europe and how a permanent President of the EU would be selected, is not due to report back to the Council of Ministers for another two years.

That's why Tony Blair is such a strong advocate for the UK to enter the 'Euro' Zone. The quicker the UK gets rid of this last obstacle to becoming a fully committed member of the EU the better for Tony to present himself as a 'true' European.

He's been steadily building up a statesman image using Bush as a means to get himself on the world stage. Hence his puzzling support for Bush's war (sorry- liberation). He needs Bush for the moment for any support America can give him in his bid for the European Presidency.

He's also banking on the fact that if elected he would be the best placed person to maintain cordial relations with the US. On that count there is nobody in Europe who can make the same claim...

'Tis all wheels within wheels...

ppman

 

[Don K Dyck]

Re: Re: Say it isn't so!

Sorry Red, I can't say it isn't so. It's been an open secret in the UK for a couple of years now. The game plan is that he will stand down as PM allowing Gordon Brown the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the man he beat for the leadership of the party to replace him.

The EU committee at the moment in session to decide on a draft Constitution for Europe and how a permanent President of the EU would be selected, is not due to report back to the Council of Ministers for another two years.

That's why Tony Blair is such a strong advocate for the UK to enter the 'Euro' Zone. The quicker the UK gets rid of this last obstacle to becoming a fully committed member of the EU the better for Tony to present himself as a 'true' European.

He's been steadily building up a statesman image using Bush as a means to get himself on the world stage. Hence his puzzling support for Bush's war (sorry- liberation). He needs Bush for the moment for any support America can give him in his bid for the European Presidency.

He's also banking on the fact that if elected he would be the best placed person to maintain cordial relations with the US. On that count there is nobody in Europe who can make the same claim...

'Tis all wheels within wheels...

ppman

Hi ppman . . . and with enrty to Europe goes the loss of national sovereignty as the English pound sterling is dropped as an international currency, leaving only the weakening U$ dollar . . . just what the American bankers want to guarantee the tottering US dollar, no competition . . . but what of Europe?? Will they want to write international busines in Euros??

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Re: Re: Say it isn't so!

Hi ppman . . . and with enrty to Europe goes the loss of national sovereignty as the English pound sterling is dropped as an international currency, leaving only the weakening U$ dollar . . . just what the American bankers want to guarantee the tottering US dollar, no competition . . . but what of Europe?? Will they want to write international busines in Euros??

The Euro at the moment is stronger than the dollar having gone through par a few weeks ago. The exchange rate hovers between $1.04/$1.05 = 1 Euro.

The Euro has had a better year than even it's most enthusiastic supporters expected and as the signs are that the American economy and her currency are ailing beyond help I can see no reason why in years to come the Euro wouldn't become the international trading currency. It is already being accepted more readily than the dollar in some countries.

ppman

 

[Don K Dyck]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Say it isn't so!

The Euro at the moment is stronger than the dollar having gone through par a few weeks ago. The exchange rate hovers between $1.04/$1.05 = 1 Euro.

The Euro has had a better year than even it's most enthusiastic supporters expected and as the signs are that the American economy and her currency are ailing beyond help I can see no reason why in years to come the Euro wouldn't become the international trading currency. It is already being accepted more readily than the dollar in some countries.

ppman

Gotta watch those European bankers . . . a friend of mine placed some U$ dollars in a European bank expecting to get the then current 15% pa interest rate . . . and found that the bank only paid 3% pa on U$ funds . . . but 16% pa on every other currency . . .

 

[REDWAVE]

Scargill!

I think Arthur Scargill should be President of Europe. Scargill-- the British political figure ppman doesn't want to talk about.

Either him, or maybe Arlette Laguiler (not sure I spelled the name quite right). You know-- that woman who heads Lutte Ouvriere (LO) in France.

Lula just took office in Brazil, pp.

 

[p_p_man]

Re: Scargill!

I think Arthur Scargill should be President of Europe. Scargill-- the British political figure ppman doesn't want to talk about.

Probably because he wasn't a political figure, he was a Trade Union leader.

In hindsight he was right, the death of the coal industry in the UK was the ultimate aim of 'That Woman's' Government. But also she was right (God what am I saying) the industry was overmanned and fast becoming obsolete in the tonnage of coal it could profitably produce...

[color=sky blue]<<Oh God...puke...puke...puke>>[/color]



ppman

 

[REDWAVE]

"She Who Banged Her Handbag on the Table"

Hmmm-- rather pettifogging distinction, if you ask me. I'd say the leader of the British coal miners' strike of 1984-5, the most dramatic and intense class struggle in the U.K. in recent years, is more than just a trade union leader, but a political figure as well. How Fabian Society of you to attempt to separate the two, ppman.


No Liebknecht you, eh?


Plus, Scargill has his own party now, doesn't he-- the SLP (Socialist Labour Party)?

Be careful, ppman-- your class bias is showing. You're really a retired London banker, aren't you?

 

[Coolville]

Re: EU Prez.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish PM, has gotten better odds from the bookies lately, after his negotiating the expansion treaty at the Copenhagen Summit. They may go for a big name, or maybe a person from a smaller country.

But the good news is that the current Greek presidency who took over on Jan. 1, have said that their goal will be averting a war with Iraq.

Finally, the EU will counter the war mongering. Poor Blair will be left out in the cold.

 

[p_p_man]

Re: EU Prez.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish PM, has gotten better odds from the bookies lately, after his negotiating the expansion treaty at the Copenhagen Summit. They may go for a big name, or maybe a person from a smaller country.

But the good news is that the current Greek presidency who took over on Jan. 1, have said that their goal will be averting a war with Iraq.

Finally, the EU will counter the war mongering. Poor Blair will be left out in the cold.

Personally I can't see Blair getting the job. But if he did I can't see him being a very good President.

His ambitions are too naked and he gives the impression that he will say and do anything to be all things to all men.

He is a strong UK leader (well stronger than the opposition leader anyway) and he is creating this world statesman image on the back of America. But I really am not sure that he is as committed a European as he would like people to think.

The recent argument with the French over the CAP proves also that he can be too easily outmanouvered.

ppman