Blair heads for last Washington talks with Bush

LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair heads to Washington this week for his last talks there with President George W Bush before resigning, as their post-9/11 partnership nears its end.

Concretely the pair will discuss the latest challenges in Iraq and Afghanistan in the talks on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as prepare for Group of Eight talks in Germany next month.

But as 54-year-old Blair prepares to bow out next month after 10 years, the meeting will inevitably fuel reflection on his alliance with what one British commentator called the most 'ignorant, dangerous' US leader since World War II.

Looking to the future, the talks will also likely spur questions over how the 'special relationship' between London and Washington will develop under Blair's likely successor, finance minister Gordon Brown.

Bush last week paid tribute to Blair, whose profile State-side is much more positive and has even earned him the US Congressional Medal of Honour in 2003, although he has yet to collect it.

"I'm going to miss him. He's a remarkable person. And I consider him a good friend," said Bush last Friday.

Blair has also sought to dismiss barbs about Bush, praising his easy-going manner, although he is said to have been maddened by his lack of influence over the US administration in post-war planning in Iraq.

But their relationship remains deeply controversial.   

Despite widespread support in Britain for the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Blair's vow to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with Bush, and above all to join him in Iraq, profoundly divided British voters. 

And the caricature of Blair as Bush's 'poodle' appeared confirmed after the president's 'Yo! Blair' comments at last year's G8 in Russia and the rebuff of his, some say desperate, request to be sent to mediate in the conflict.   

Labour leader Neil Kinnock spoke for many after Blair's resignation announcement last week when he said he was baffled by the nominally centre-left premier's relationship with the conservative US president. 

"It is one of the major areas of activity of the Blair years that I find most difficult to understand," he said.

As Blair prepares to stand down, many Britons are looking for Brown to have a more nuanced relationship with the United States.

But there are few signs of that yet, if only because as chancellor of the exchequer, he bankrolled Britain's foreign interventions and it would not be politically expedient to distance himself so soon. 

Brown, an instinctive Atlanticist whose favoured holiday spot is Cape Cod on the US east coast, has said he sees the 'strong and special relationship' holding but wants to be a bridge between Europe and the United States.

Brown also supports continued British involvement in Iraq. He accepts mistakes have been made but believes it 'wrong' to pull out troops immediately, just as Iraqis are assuming control of the southern provinces.

What could be interesting is the personal relationship between Brown and Bush, and whoever succeeds him in next year's presidential elections.

In preparation for the handover, Brown met Bush for their first face-to-face talks in Washington in April, with the president saying he found the chancellor 'easy to talk to' and a 'good thinker'.

But Brown, by reputation a fiercely intellectual conviction politician who does not suffer fools gladly, appeared to shy away from returning the compliment. 

"President Bush is the elected leader of the American people. I was pleased to have a chance to talk to him," he said in an interview with 'Time' magazine published last Thursday. 

That he also said he has good relations with the Democratic Party suggests the man known for 'prudence' in all things is not hedging his bets.