Blair’s loyalty tested as Bush menaces Iran

[emad]

Sunday Times
Tony Allen-Mills, Washington



AFTER two years of unswerving solidarity over the war in Iraq, Tony Blair’s relationship with President George W Bush is coming under strain from the newly revived threat of an American military attack on nuclear facilities in Iran.

British officials are increasingly concerned that months of patient European-led diplomacy aimed at curbing the ayatollahs’ nuclear ambitions may suddenly explode in a torrent of bunker-busting bombs dropped by B-2 stealth bombers.

Reports last week that US special forces are already scouting for targets in Iran have fanned concern that London and Washington are heading for an embarrassing split over American mistrust of Tehran.

Despite Blair’s commitment to the so-called EU-3 Iran initiative launched by Britain, France and Germany, a consensus is emerging in Washington that an approach dubbed by some officials as “European carrot and American stick” — and by others as “good cop, bad cop” — is failing to produce results.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1452252,00.html

[pres2032]

1. so how long until britain invades us again

because we failed at being a good country?

[chelsea0011]

2. It's too late for Blair. He went to bed with a war criminal

and now he is one. Bush and Blair. It's all the same.

[saltpoint]

3. "I can't do it this time, George. My mom says I cant' --

-- play with you anymore. She says she doesn't like your attitude and you're up to no good. Sorry."

[leesa]

4. Isn't Blair supposed to be loyal to Britain??

[no_hypocrisy]

5. No problem. 9/11/05. London. Note found on Iranian government

stationery at the scene: "We did it."