Blair: Dissent with U.S. private

[UpInArms]

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/05/20/uk.blair.bush/

LONDON, England -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has told Cabinet colleagues that any open disagreement with the U.S. over Iraq risked damaging troops' morale.

The Blair government has repeatedly denied that London and Washington differ on Iraq policy. But Blair's main political opponent said the prime minister often voiced disquiet in private and urged him to bring the debate into the open.

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In a newspaper article Thursday Opposition Conservative party leader Michael Howard complained of a "serious lack of candor" about Blair's discussions with President Bush.

"He seems to take the view that any advice he offers on U.S. policy must be made in private and any disagreement kept secret," wrote the Tory leader in The Independent.

<snip>

Blair's public trust ratings have plummeted in the wake of the Iraq war and the revelations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops have further eroded public support for the U.S.-led occupation in Britain.

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