May 8, 2006

THE ELEPHANT THAT BROKE STRAW'S BACK?:

Did Bush Force British Minister Out?: London Papers: Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's Iran Stance Prompted Angry Bush Call To Blair (CBS/AP, May 7, 2006)

Two London papers have speculated this weekend that complaints by President George W. Bush forced a British minister from his post because of his opposition to the use of nuclear force against Iran.

The Independent suggests that a phone call from the U.S. president to British Prime Minister Tony Blair led to the removal of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw Friday.

The newspaper reports that friends of Straw believe Mr. Bush was extremely upset when Straw pronounced any use of nuclear weapons against Iran "nuts."

Both The Independent and the Guardian write that Straw's "fate was sealed" after a White House phone call to Blair.


Doing Iran would be a nice final punctuation mark on Mr. Blair's tenure.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 8, 2006 12:19 PM
Comments

We all know where the Guardian stands, I think the 'Independent' is similar.

Is there anyone here who thinks that Tony Blair would dump a longtime foreign minister because Dubya was "upset"?? I mean, they can be allies, and still have Blair say, "Gee, thanks for the observation George, but it really ain't your call..." etc.

What terrible wrath could descend upon Albion should Blair politely tell Bush to take a hike? And just what makes them think Bush would make such a call to start with?

And, given Blair's precarious position right now, do they really think pleasing BUSH is his highest priority, or would gain him so much as an iota of usable political capital?

This strikes me as another "Bush says God talked to him about Palestine" story: pure hokum, but it fits the bill of what these journalists.... um, sorry...... these "journalists"..... so desperately want to believe is true, that they just can't contain themselves from running with it the moment they hear it... or read it from a telephone pole somwhere... or whatever.

This is a smart audience. Does anyone here find this story even plausible or possible, not too mention actually true?

Posted by: Andrew X at May 8, 2006 1:11 PM

Andrew:

Yes, he'd dump him because the things that upset W upset Blair.

Posted by: oj at May 8, 2006 2:59 PM

I think the Independent is somewhat to the left of the Guardian. Thatīs the full spectrum for some people.

Posted by: wf at May 8, 2006 6:34 PM

It may not be true, but I like it.

Posted by: Genecis at May 8, 2006 9:56 PM
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