In his meeting with President Bush today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to advocate for a U.N. ceasefire resolution:
Tony Blair will press George Bush today to support “as a matter of urgency” a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of a UN security council resolution next week, according to Downing Street sources.
Britain’s former ambassador to the U.S. has already “dismissed Tony Blair’s ability to sway George Bush” on the issue. He’s right. Despite having been a steadfast supporter of Bush’s endeavors in Iraq, Blair has received very little in return.
Here are some of examples of Blair’s sound advice that Bush has rejected or ignored –
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Blair, who is hosting the G-8 summit, wants a strong international agreement that man-made pollutants are contributing to the problem and that mandatory reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are the prudent solution…but [U.S. officials] stopped short of embracing Blair’s solution. [Washington Post, 7/7/05]
POVERTY
Seeking billions in debt relief for Africa, newly re-elected British Prime Minister Tony Blair had to settle yesterday for extravagantly wrapped morsels of food aid and vague promises of more to come from U.S. President George W. Bush. [Toronto Globe and Mail, 6/8/05]
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
[Blair] persuaded Bush to revive the Middle East peace process between Israel and Palestine that Bush had abandoned. The new “road map” for peace there was the principal concession that Blair wrested from Bush [for support on Iraq]. … But within the councils of the Bush administration that initiative was systematically undermined. [Salon, 11/14/03]
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