Relations in 'deep freeze' since Saddam caught

[Tinoire]

Dec 21 2003

Relations in 'deep freeze' since Saddam caught ((Bush and Blair)
By Chris Mclaughlin, Political Editor


<snip>

The two leaders have fallen out over plans for the reconstruction of the country and the heavy-handed action of American troops against the civilian population.

And the rift has been deepened by a Washington ban on a proposed morale-boosting visit by the PM to British troops in Iraq during the Christmas holiday.

According to diplomats, relations between the allies have gone into "deep freeze" since the capture of Saddam Hussein last weekend.

<snip>

President Bush was incensed that Mr Blair stole Washington's thunder by being the first Western leader to confirm that the former dictator had been arrested by US troops.

Downing Street rushed out Mr Blair's announcement before he had spoken to the American leader early last Sunday, when Mr Bush - six hours behind London - was still in bed.

<reluctant snip- do read the rest!>

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/news/content_objectid=13746358_method=full_siteid=106694_headline=-BUSH-AND-BLAIR--THE-BIG-FALL-OUT-name_page.html

[Randi_Listener]

1. Uh oh.

Time to add Britain to the Axis-of-Evil.

When do we bomb London?

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Right after Blair finds his spine

and orders the MOD to bring the troops home

What are the chances that will happen?

[madaboutharry]

3. Well, well, well, looks like little Tony

is getting a view of the BUSH FAMILY EVIL EMPIRE from the inside. If Blair had any balls he would get on the teley (sorry if I spelled that wrong) and tell the truth about the lies behind this war. He may as well since his seat on the board of the Carlyle Group is now looking a bit shaky.

[kskiska]

4. Looks like Tony's changed his toothpaste brand

I guess it's not Close-Up, though.

[IndianaGreen]

7. So the poodle is finding out that Bush prefers Barney to him!

Presidential advisers in Washington wanted Mr Bush to be the sole leader to make a Christmas visit to troops in Baghdad and urged Downing Street to postpone any visit.

The US refused to co-operate on security arrangements for a Christmas visit by Mr Blair

What a petty tyrant Bush is turning out to be? Caligula or Nero?

[tritsofme]

5. Are articles from the Mirror really breaking news?

Its a British tabloid, like a politicized Inquirer.

[Voltaire99]

6. Actually, it's better than most corporate US papers

The Mirror is a hybrid of worthless tabloid celebrity gazing and serious, world-class reporting. You'll find the inestimable John Pilger in its pages, a writer of far more substance than the establishment toadies who supply Americans with their daily pacifiers.

The paper's editorial board courageously opposed the Iraq war, something few US boards did in their gullible rush to believe Bush and Blair's "evidence," and later it gave Peter Arnett a job after he was drummed out of work by his lickspittle employer here.

No, it's not an excellent paper like the Guardian or even a good paper like the New York Times. But if Gannett or Fox is worthy of LBN, the Mirror certainly is, too.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. It's a tabloid, yes, but it is left of centre, and if John Pilger

will write for it, it's not that bad.

[truth2power]

9. Ha ha. Guess Bush is stabbing Tony in the back now.

Not as if that couldn't have been predicted. What I can't figure out is why all these world leaders can't look at those who have trusted the U.S. before, and just know that the knife will eventually end up in their back, too.

[54anickel]

10. Ha, when I caught the title I thought it was about OBL!

:evilgrin:

[lebkuchen]

11. Goodbye US airbases in the UK

Not because of "bad blood," mind you, but for logistic purposes, to keep the US that much safer from terrorists.

Yeah, right.