Tony Blair, your views

In the UK Tony Blair is hardly the most popular kid on the block, but what do non-UK residents think of him, and UK residents if you want.

You can say what you like about him but it is possible that he is one of the best politicians alive today, not necessarily for his role as Prime Minister but in general. He has managed to be good friends with two US presidents, something rarely done. He has managed to stay well on top of the polls in the UK despite huge unpopularity, how you ask, well he portrays a very good 'nice guy' images to vast majority of the UK population. He has also may I add, done a great deal for the UK in his last two terms in office, the main ones being a comprehensive human rights bill and the devolution of parliament to Scotland and Wales.

Also please keep it as clean as possible!!

You sir, belong in an asylum.
Blair is not only the biggest liar in history but he is also leading us directly where we don't want to be - The 51st state.

Remind me again why we're taking part in this complete farce know as the Iraq war? *cough* oil *cough*

Nice guy image? I happen to be a member of the UK population and I can strongly tell you people see him as a slimy waste of space.

As another Brit I have to say that Mr Blair has done the country no favours.

No offence to anyone else from Europe intended, but I don't think Britain can be effectively run from Brussels, a move which has slowly taken place in the years that Mr Blair has held office. He has tried too hard not to upset any of our NATO allies, be that American or European, often at the cost of our country.

He is no doubt one of the best actors of his generation and a very shrewd political operator, but his success has all been very well stage managed. Even as recently as last week we saw this:

"I'm going for heart surgery, oh and I'm gonna stay on for a third term, see you when I return from the hospital"

He has frequently made use of situations to slip major issues under the radar, burying them behind these issues. Clever, but not very honest. He has been one of the best exponents of political spin to be seen and has used the media very effectively during his term in office.

I don't, however, see anyone else better equipped for the job in the senior ranks of any British political party. I hate to see it but, unless Michael Howard really can pull something out of the bag in terms of innovation and spine, he is guaranteed the third term he craves.

Well, as a non-British person I don't have much of a personal opinion on the man. Although, I tend to agree with Swampy in that he makes some brash decisions and uses many things to his advantage.

I know that our current administration (don't get me wrong President Bush is an ok guy in my opinion [please don't crucify me all!]) tends to portray PM Blair as an upstanding man, with strong moral principles, blah blah...

I firmly feel that if it were not for Blair's unwavering (for the most part) support of the Iraq war there would not be so much said about him here in the States. I have never seen/heard anything to make me think that he is some spectacular person or leader, but living here I'm so far buried under our own political bull...(you get the picture ;) ) that I wouldn't know anything unless it hit me squarely in the face.

I feel for you Swampy. Here in the States we have one man that is a power realist, hungry for the Americanization of the world and another man that can't make up his mind and authors nothing of originality. Well, there's always Nader, but who cares? Wish we had better choices all the way around (both here and abroad).

As for the whole Iraq war being about oil...no never...the US and other large (overconsuming) countries want oil? That's impossible...

2 Main reasons why Bush (with help of blair) attacked Iraq

1: he wanted to finish, what his daddy coudn't (bush.sr coudn't get of saddam)
2: he wanted the iraq oil.

and blair being bush his butt boy wanted it too of course.

in that one songclip of george michael he portraits blair excelent as bush his butt boy/dog

You'd be amazed at the lengths that some countries will go to in order to get oil Morkeleb. Our delightful leader Mr Howard is currently ripping off East Timor, taking what was supposed to be a minority of the oil from the country in payment for our aid with their Independance. The new boundaries we are trying to draw could take $8 billion from the East Timor economy, so it is no surprise that Bush went in guns blazing (excuse the phrase) to try and save the claim in the oil.

As to Tony Blair, I see him on a similar vein to Howard, hanging onto the strings of Bush in a hope it comes out and benefits his country.

You sir, belong in an asylum.

And you sir, are warned. Please keep the politics section free from flames. I can understand it can sometimes get firy, but insulting other members is not okay.

2 Main reasons why Bush (with help of blair) attacked Iraq

1: he wanted to finish, what his daddy coudn't (bush.sr coudn't get of saddam)
2: he wanted the iraq oil.

and blair being bush his butt boy wanted it too of course.

in that one songclip of george michael he portraits blair excelent as bush his butt boy/dog

Trolling is against the rules. I can understand that you dislike Blair or Bush, but if you do, try describing why you dislike them. Also, if you make a statement like:

1: he wanted to finish, what his daddy coudn't (bush.sr coudn't get of saddam)
2: he wanted the iraq oil.

Either back this up with evidence, or don't state it at all.

Though this may seem directed at you, Freddy Krueger, I feel that your behaviour in, especially this section leaves much to be desired.

Now, I would have rather dedicated this post to Blair and his policy that pointing out misbehaviour. Please try to refrain from Bush/Blair-bashing.

Mr U

Sorry Eon, I was trying to be subtly sarcastic in my bit about oil. I didn't want to be guilty of flaming or whatever. Freddy Krueger, to a certain extent I agree with you that President Bush attacked Iraq to vindicate what his father had tried to do with the Gulf War. But I also feel, that rightly or otherwise, President Bush truly thought that Iraq posed a threat to the safety of America and the globe. Now whether this was self brainwashing or based on some intelligence that the general public is aware, I just don't know.

After posting here yesterday I spent a little time looking into PM Blair's history and found nothing to persuade me either way (whether I like him or not). I do give him credit for standing by the United States through the Iraq conflict so far. It takes an amazing amount of courage to stand up to the global audience, especially when the move is so unpopular. Whether or not either's country is right or justified in invading Iraq is beyond my realm of expertise. And my opinion has not been soldified. I know here in the States many people feel that we are engaging in another Vietnam-the whole innocent people dying and for what? scenario.

I will close this by quoting a peace ribbon saying that which I think epitomizes this entire age: "Freedom isn't free."

Not at all mate, I never took it that way. I was showing another leader who's doing bloody aweful things to a poorer country to get a resource off them, I'm quite disgusted at the way our government is behaving to be honest.