Optimism dashed
San Francisco International Airport: "These are sovereign governments, not puppets on a string". Thus the PM's official spokesman sought to explain why Tony Blair did not believe that calling for an immediate ceasefire would change anything on the ground in Lebanon. Gone was the optimism of only 12 hours earlier when Tony Blair talked of there being "a real chance" of getting an end to hostility.
When Mr Blair spoke to his Israeli opposite number he clearly did not hear what he hoped to hear. Mr Olmert is not ready to call a ceasefire in the coming days and insists that he will only be willing to do so once an international force moves into southern Lebanon.
So the next Blair phone call was to President Chirac. France are the former imperial power, they are in the chair of the Security Council and are expected to lead any international force. The problem is that they say that their troops will only go in once there's a political deal and not a day before. Mr Chirac, unlike Tony Blair, has been willing to criticise Israel and, indeed, his foreign minister has sugested that the carnage in Qana could have been avoided if Britain and the US had followed France's lead.
So, as we prepare to take off from San Francisco to Los Angeles the diplomatic augurs look poor. The backroom boys and girls from Number Ten who thought this would be a leisurely trip to the sun are set to have yet another broken night's sleep. As their boss snores they take messages from diplomats in the Middle East, at the UN and back at base in Number Ten and they set up calls with world leaders once the PM awakes. They've never had a trip quite like this one.
I'm 
Comments
Nick - With this stalemate I fear we would hear terrible news from Lebanon tomorrow and days afterwards.
I felt shivered as listening to George Bush's refrain earlier today, that "Israel has the right to defend". Are they defending by killing children, women and elders?
Where is the moral of these leaders? Do they believe in their God? What did Blair pray when he went to the Church yesterday?
I have written to my MP (who was for a time a member of the Cabinet), asking that the Busted Flush be dumped. The text of the e-mail to my MP is on my blog.
Blair does not control a sovereign government. He is a puppet on George Bush's string.
I am concerned about the idea of a French led intervention force. What if a French led international force goes into Southern Lebanon and do not stop the rockets? What will Israel do?
Stick with it Nick, there was never a 'silly season' like this...
I watched Newsnight. It was chilling. anyone who feels any trip anywhere to sunny climes is going to be a cake walk is deluded. What we witnessed on TV last night, it was shocking and really does throw a horrific light on events in the middle east.
There is no person living who would suggest collateral damage and killing innocents is ever a way to behave, and Newsnight showed us the consequences.
To condone any part of this atrocity from either side is beyond anyone's sanity or reason.
I hope the back room girls and boys and Tony Blair had a fitful night, they bloody well deserve to, and anyone else who has seen the death and devastation.
"These are sovereign governments, not puppets on a string."
I would love to have been party to the thought processes amongst the entourage that led to them coming up with that one. Its an even better analogy than poodles. TB could even try mentioning it to George 'Dubya' - not sure it would hit home though, for surely this is the antithesis to neo-colonialism? Pull the string and the puppet state acts: "take our missiles and go and bomb the terrorists for us, until we broker the peace settlement and tell you to stop" and then we'll come out smelling of .....?
Can someone please tell me if Mr. Blair is curently on official business or holiday. Is Mr. Murdoch picking up the tab, or am I?
In response to Dave Edwards:
Dave, that's exactly what i wanted to know yesterday, after Nick's report about Blair's speech to Murdoch and co. Still not exactly sure.
I thought Blair's reason for jetting off to the U.S. for crisis talks on Israel/Lebanon. (Even then, i found that a bit strange. Why not go instead to, um, Israel or Lebanon?) But in fact it was just a little stop-over on his way to jawjawing with Rupe and Arnie and admiring the view from a high-rise penthouse in San Francisco.
Where next?
After all the talk of corruption such as casino operators buying favourable policies with a cowboy suit and some flattery, I wonder how much more serious we should consider Blair selling his entire government strategy for favours from Rupert Murdoch. It'd be fascinating to find out what deals were struck between the two of them and when.
Hi Nick - Even if they are sovereign nations, I'd like to see the Prime Minister at least trying - preferrably in a very public, overt manner - to secure a ceasefire.
Everyone in the Cabinet seems to support an immediate ceasefire - it's a mystery why Blair doesn't.
Nick,
It appears that the Cabinet want the UK to call for a ceasefire, the majority of the labour party favours that approach and a good chunk of parliament seems to concurr. Judging from comments on the 91Èȱ¬ web, there is a large chunk of the British public that are behind a call for a ceasefire. In a democracy that would imply that the PM would represent our views, so does Mr Blair not believe in democracy and if so what are we exporting to Iraq and Afghanistan. The next time Mr Blair asks, you might explain that in so doing he not only represents the views of the majority (his job), but increases the pressure on the US which might just lead to some real action - particularly if it is made clear to the US that our sovereign terroritory can no longer be used to re-arm one of the combatants. He may not have an impact on events, but that is no good reason not to try.
Dear Nick,
I write this in the hope that opinion formers read your blog.
I am increasingly becoming frustrated by our prime minister Blair. i use his official title in order to highlight that he is in fact NOT a president.
Why is it that the UK government employs many highly qualified experts at the foreign office who are seemingly well payed to offer advice to the foreign office minister and the government as a whole on international affairs, and yet our increasingly arrogant prime minister dismisses not only the current (and relatively inexperienced one at that) minister charged to run the foreign office but also her predicessor (the very experienced) Jack Straws' opinion? both old and new FO ministers present a similar stance on the current situation in the middle east. and yet Mr Blair feels he knows better than either, and the whole specialized department employed specifically to advise and deal with situations such as this.
Ignoring a million people who voiced their opinion over Iraq by marching on london was forgiven by the electorate. i am a labour supporter but Prime Minister Blairs' continuing arrogance in the face of a potentially wider war is surlely the last straw...
Enough is enough.
Tom Reeve said, Everyone in the Cabinet seems to support an immediate ceasefire - it's a mystery why Blair doesn't.
There's a brilliantly concise and perceptive comment by "dantemagnani" on the Guardian's CiF that provides the answer: TB is ingratiating himself with an audience that is studded with his future benefactors; he will leave government service and become extremely wealthy and adored (in America), showered with rewards and favours; he is not going to say or do anything to imperil all that. Dear me, no.
Is it safe to bet that Tony Blair's post-government memoirs will be published by Harper Collins, an imprint owned by.... Rupert Murdoch?
France is in no position to criticise any other country. Remember Chirac's "if we are attacked by terrorists I will use nuclear weapons" remark? Good thing Israel is restrained and did not follow Chirac's lead. That truly would have been a disproportionate response.
"I am increasingly becoming frustrated by our prime minister Blair. i use his official title in order to highlight that he is in fact NOT a president."
Why not try moving to China/Russia you will no doubt meet a warm reception there.
I dont expect this to be posted as you have not posted any of my last 3.
Can I state that whatever some politicians may SAY to win some political browny points with a few marginal voters, that whoever was in power in this country right now would be doing exactly the same as Tony Blair. Only maybe more honestly.
The problem I have with him is that he leads a political party that only would have done "the moral thing" if they were lied to first.
A good war leader only promisses "BLOOD AND SWEAT" not having superior imformation too complicated for us "simple plebs" to understand.