Has Blair been helped by Saddams capture?

[Bozo Erectus]

Lots of talk about how Saddams capture has been a boost for Bush domestically but Ive heard virtually nothing about how its effecting Blairs standing with the British. Whats the mood on the street in the U.K., is Blair getting more support domestically like Bush is at the moment?

 

[Nad]

Although the capture is great news for Blair, I don't think it's going to have too much of an effect on his position.

The main criticism of Blair re Iraq is the way he has acted as Bush's poodle. Whereas for Bush Iraq is almost a personal conflict, this is not true for Blair.

Also, without getting into too broad a generalization, the public in the UK understand the difference between Al-Qaeda and Iraq much better than the public in the USA seems to. Everyone agrees that getting shot of Saddam is great, but that does not necassarily justify the war against Iraq.

Tony Blair staked his honesty and reputation on weapons of mass destruction being in the hands of Saddam. Finding such weapons would be a massive coup for him. Until/unless that occurs, he will still suffer the stigma of the Iraq occupation.

 

[Kev1916]

Originally posted by Nad
Although the capture is great news for Blair, I don't think it's going to have too much of an effect on his position.

The main criticism of Blair re Iraq is the way he has acted as Bush's poodle. Whereas for Bush Iraq is almost a personal conflict, this is not true for Blair.

Also, without getting into too broad a generalization, the public in the UK understand the difference between Al-Qaeda and Iraq much better than the public in the USA seems to. Everyone agrees that getting shot of Saddam is great, but that does not necassarily justify the war against Iraq.

Tony Blair staked his honesty and reputation on weapons of mass destruction being in the hands of Saddam. Finding such weapons would be a massive coup for him. Until/unless that occurs, he will still suffer the stigma of the Iraq occupation.

Some it up very well I don't think the Capture of Saddam makes any difference Britain should not have gone to war on some whim of the American President.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

It depends entirely upon your position at the start of the war...


Those opposed to the removal of Saddam by force aren't going to praise once Saddam is actually removed as the means used are not those they are willing to support. Though, quite frankly most people that objected simply hate the United States and inparticular George Bush.

 

[zulu9812]

I still think Blair is a prat who never listens to anyone, allows his religion to cloud his judgement and seems to think he's an elected king who can do anything he likes simply because he was elected, even when millions march in protest.

 

[Mega Tsunami]

Short term it has given him a breather I think and it has certainly distracted the media/us from the hilarious failure of the EU summit over the weekend.

As mentioned WMD are still AWOL and there is the juicy Hutton enquiry decision to come

 

[Suppersalmon]

i dont feel it has done much for tony blair because the public will still feel lied about over the weapons of mass destruction and the main thing that may help him or show that he lied is the Hutton report comming out in January this will effect Blair more IMO

 

[amadeus]

Originally posted by kittenOFchaos
Those opposed to the removal of Saddam by force aren't going to praise once Saddam is actually removed as the means used are not those they are willing to support.

If life were only that simple.

"This is a major event which should strongly contribute to the democratization and the stabilization of Iraq, and allow the Iraqis to once more be masters of their destiny." - Chirac

"It's with great delight that I learned of Saddam Hussein's capture." - Schroder

"We think the arrest of Saddam Hussein will contribute to the strengthening of security in Iraq and to the process of political regulation in the country with the active participation of the U.N." - Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister

 

[Kinniken]

Originally posted by rmsharpe


If life were only that simple.

What is wrong with having been opposed to the war and yet being very, very happy that Saddam was captured and that this might boost the reconstruction process? Nobody I have met since Saddam's capture seems to be happier about it than Arab students at my university, even if they opposed the war.

 

[amadeus]

Those interested in keeping Saddam in power are commending U.S. forces for his capture?

 

[GenMarshall]

I am not sure if this has help with Blair’s reputation. Mainly the capture of Saddam mainly helped Bush somewhat. I personally don’t see anything in Blair’s future.

 

[Kinniken]

rmsharpe, I hope you realise than being in favor of the war in Iraq required trust in the US, both in its war objectives and in its capacity to turn Iraq in a democracy.
Arab students who come, or have visited, places like Saudi Arabia or other Arab dictatures supported by the US have troubles perceiving the US as the defender of freedom. Especially when they remember the US's earlier support of Saddam, a realpolik decision which may have made sense for America, but did so on the back of the Kurds amoung other. Plus, on the whole they did not (and largely still do not) believe the US capable of making Iraq a democracy even if it wanted to. What they saw was an attack for dubious reasons (WMDs?) by a nation they do not trust on an Arab nation with very little chance of actually ending with an Arab democracy. All this at a probable high cost in human life. Saying that they are "interested in keeping Saddam in power" is an insult to them, especially since most of them have lived in western-sponsored dictatorship (Morocco and Tunisia in particular)!
And while I disagree with them on most of the points above, I can very well understand why most Arabs definitely do not trust the US. In all honestly, the US has done little for them to do so. I hope you prove them wrong in Iraq.

 

[Little Raven]

British politics is a little outside my scope, so take this will a grain of salt....

I predict that Blair will get only a small push upward from this. Americans have forgotten all about WMD, but I don't think our British cousins have. Until those are found, (and with Saddam in custody, excuses for not finding them are going to wear thin quickly) I think Blair's seat will remain plenty hot.

It is possible to be happy Saddam was captured, but still believe the war as executed to be an error.

 

[onejayhawk]

I admit to being far removed from British politics. I suspect that the capture will do Blair more good than Bush. There has been a litany of things which have been held against the conflict, regardless of the specific outcome. Promenent amoung these are WMD, al Queda tie ins and Saddam Husseins eluding capture. In the US you could add Ossama bin Laden as well.

Now one of the primary visible goals of the conflict has been reduced to a news story. All possible derission has been extrracted fromn it, and in the future it will stand as an accomplished fact. To be sure, the focus will turn to how he is being handled, where and by whom he will be tried, etc. But no one will ever be able to say that this particular thing was not accomplished.

J

 

[zippy]

The reason Tony Blair is in trouble over the war in Iraq is because he lied to the British people on the reasons. He knew that removing a head of state could not be justified simply because he was a bad man, so he latched onto some other excuse. His attitude that "You wouldn't have gone along with it if I had told you the truth" shows the contempt he has for the voting public and has basically sowed the seeds for his own destruction.(That and a complete failure to get to grips with any of the domestic issues troubling the UK). I do not expect to be lied to by my elected representatives, and I expect them to resign if they are caught doing so. Once the Labour party finally decide that their principles are more important than being in power, they will dump him. Either that or they will see him as an electoral liability and dump him anyway.

Capturing Sadaam is a good thing for Iraq, but I don't see it being much help to Tony Blair

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I feel bad for Blair. He paid a huge political price for supporting Bush and gets virtually nothing in return. He cant even get his best buddy George to return a few British prisoners he's got locked up in Guantanamo. Bush cant even throw Blair a bone on a minor thing like that . Blair sacrifices his political career, Bush gives him nothing. But anyway, on top of that, now Bush gets a huge boost out of the Saddam thing and thats right: Blair gets zilch. Blair must be like "Yo, WTH??"

 

[Skullbones]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
I feel bad for Blair. He paid a huge political price for supporting Bush and gets virtually nothing in return.

Maybe he lost a bet with GB or something? Maybe plan B isn't ready yet. A few months from now, the Brits will "find" a stockpile of WMD and it'll be great for him. George will get on and say, "Well, chop my legs off and call me shorty! We couldn't done it with out ya!", and Tony'll say "Right-o!" or whatever.

Or maybe he's just screwed.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
Those interested in keeping Saddam in power are commending U.S. forces for his capture?

They are not British

 

[MrPresident]

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
He paid a huge political price for supporting Bush and gets virtually nothing in return.

I'm sure he will have a very success lecture tour of the United States once he retires.

Originally posted by Dumb pothead
He cant even get his best buddy George to return a few British prisoners he's got locked up in Guantanamo.

We actually don't want them that much. We would much rather you treated them as PoWs and kept them the hell away from Britain. The legal problems throw up by their trials would be tremendous, not to mention the cost to the taxpayer. You arrested, you try them. Just treat them a little better. Is that too much to ask?

Originally posted by onejayhawk
I admit to being far removed from British politics.

You mean that wasn't you who demanded fries in the House of Commons cateria?

Originally posted by Kinniken
Arab students who come...blah...blah...in western-sponsored dictatorship (Morocco and Tunisia in particular)!

A very noteworthy analysis of the situation. Good job, old boy. Almost good enough to be from an Englishman.

Saddam's capture can only be good news for Mr Blair. However while it may make his Christmas a less stressful time it really is a pebble in the ocean compared with the upcoming Hutton Inquiry.

 

[Kinniken]

Originally posted by MrPresident

A very noteworthy analysis of the situation. Good job, old boy. Almost good enough to be from an Englishman.

Second time today that I am congratulated on the quality of my posts... People here are cleverer than I though

I find your way of condensing my ten line word, pompous and utterly Gallic argument in "...blah...blah.." very impertinent however

Originally posted by MrPresident

I'm sure he will have a very success lecture tour of the United States once he retires.

Maybe I am just being naive, but has Blair ever done anything to suggest he is interested in making money out of his post? I have to say I have never heard of bribery scandals involving him of any sort... He is not Clinton or Chirac, AFAIK.