LONDON (Reuters Yahoo News) – British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a withering attack on Thursday on what he called “mad anti-Americanism” among European politicians.
Blair, U.S. President George W. Bush’s closest ally in the so-called war on terror, said the world urgently needs the United States to help tackle the globe’s most pressing problems.
“The danger is if they decide to pull up the drawbridge and disengage. We need them involved,” Blair said, spelling out his political vision in a pamphlet published by The Foreign Policy Center think-tank.
“The strain of, frankly, anti-American feeling in parts of European politics is madness when set against the long-term interests of the world we believe in,” he said.
Blair, accused by critics of being Bush’s poodle who slavishly follows Washington’s line, sought to stifle a revolt in his ruling Labour Party last week by promising to quit within a year after almost 10 years in office.
His popularity has tumbled in opinion polls after government scandals over sleaze and mismanagement were compounded by controversy over the wars in Iraq and Lebanon.
As he did during the Iraq War, he sided squarely with Washington over the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas, angering Arab nations and European allies by refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire.
Responding to those who have criticized the White House, Blair said in his pamphlet:
“The danger with America today is not that they are too much involved.”
“We want them engaged. The reality is that none of the problems that press in on us can be resolved or even contemplated without them,” he added.
Laying out his vision for countering extremists, he said:
“We need to construct an alliance of moderation that paints a future in which Muslim, Jew and Christian, Arab and Western, wealthy and developing nations can make progress in peace and harmony with each other.”
Blair, returning from a trip to the Middle East, said the stand-off between Israel and the Palestinians remains “a — perhaps the — genuine source of anger in the Arab and Muslim world, going far beyond anti-Western feeling.”
“The issue of even-handedness rankles deeply,” he acknowledged.
Blair pledged to making Middle East “an absolute priority for the rest of my time in office.”
Wild Thing’s comment…….
Blair did great as he spoke out about the anti-Americanism in Europe. That’s something that should be attacked. But the more dangerous one is the anti-Americanism in America.
When Blair steps down we may lose Britain as a reliable ally. That will be a terrible void, maybe eased if we can get the former Soviet Republics more involved. I just don’t know.
You are on the button WT with your awareness of the danger of home grown anti-Americanism.
Blair has risked it all to support the US and keep Britain free but the Quislings there and here don’t want to offend the Moslems. One thing that disturbs me is the RNC. Mehlman’s group seeks RINO’s instead of solid conservatives for office, I think Ken would even back Ned Lamont if he declared himself a Republican, as long as they do that I will not send in one red cent to the rat bastards. We can’t get solid people in office if the RNC undermines our every step and supports the opposition, they are as insidious as the CPC is in the Democrat party.
Tom I agree, Blair will be missed terribly when he steps down. I am very concerned who will be next. I wish it could be another Thatcher.
OH Jack you said just what I am furious about and sooooo worried about. What good does voting for the lesser evil do when both have the heart of a democrat. grrrrrr
Jack, your absolutely right about the RNC and getting RINO’s into office. I was listening to Newt the other night and he said all they are concerned about is committee charimanship if Republicans control the senate and house. They don’t care about the conservative values of Ronald Reagan, they only want control.
Blair’s got guts – not a common trait in the leaders of todays world. In the face of his supporters turning against him, he stands for what he believes in spite of the consequence to himself.
It’s not popular to support America – or to admit the Europe needs America. He definitly has guts.