Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Peace-bringer?

As Blair left Number 10 it was announced that he would be soon taking up the role of UN envoy to the Middle East, or at least envoy for select UN members. At prime minister's questions, Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley said: "I just want to say to the prime minister... He has entered into another colossal task... I hope that what happened in Northern Ireland will be repeated and at the end of the day he will be able to look back and say it was well worthwhile." But is Blair the right man? When George I said we should not send any more Hoares to Paris is was based on a public outcry against a man who made a wrong decision in foreign policy; OK Blair did not sell a nation out to a fascist dictatorship but is there any greater respect for him within certain Middle Eastern states. Will he be perceived as an impartial arbiter or a warmonger? An independent mind with an objective perspective or an American puppet? Does anyone know how he is perceived in the Middle East? And if not, why is he the right man for the task? Would former British prime minister Edward Heath, the man at the helm on Bloody Sunday, have been able to negotiate peace in Northern Ireland? Big questions!

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