Army blasts Blair for delaying fresh Iraq deployment

[cal04]

Tony Blair's decision to postpone the announcement of crucial troop reinforcements for Iraq until after the local and European elections has infuriated defence chiefs. Senior officers believe that the decision to delay deployment plans could have serious consequences for the 8,700 British troops in Iraq.

They fear the delay will be seen by insurgents as a sign of weakness and will encourage more attacks on troops.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/05/30/nirq30.xml

[Hubert Flottz]

1. Tony and Bush don't worry about the troops and their families!

All Tony and Bush worry about is votes and keeping their power!

[Ironpost]

2. For just a moment

I would like to see what it felt like to be wealthy and powerful.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. It depends on what you think of as wealth!

These people in high places all have the same God! That God is wealth!

[Texican]

4. Those Poor Troops

I bet they were really looking forward to going. Maybe they can pay their own way.

[fujiyama]

5. It's funny

but I think Blair and Bush have more in common than is normally supposed (aside from their support of the neo con agenda).

It's rarely mentioned in the US press that Blair is a religious man -- this is something somewhat rare in British politics.

Maybe Blair shares that messiahnic complex Bush has.

[Mr Creosote]

6. Blair and religion

Blair is very religious - but that is kept very quiet as it really wouldn't play well here. Not so long ago Blair was repeatedly questioned about whether he and Dubya prayed together. He squirmed and squirmed but wouldn't answer.

[dbt]

7. Welcome, Mr Creosote!

Please keep us Yanks up-to-date on Tony In The Pincers!

:toast:
dbt

[mrfrapp]

8. Paxman

That prayer question was asked by Jeremy Paxman in a special televised interview just prior to the Iraqi invasion. His response spoke volumes.

[mrfrapp]

9. Transcript

I've just found the transcript of the interview mentioned above. Here's the relevent extract.


JEREMY PAXMAN: The question is what freedom he has under the current inspection regime but we ve discussed that already, I want to explore a little further about your personal feelings about this war. Does the fact that George Bush and you are both Christians make it easier for you to view these conflicts in terms of good and evil?

TONY BLAIR: I don t think so, no, I think that whether you re a Christian or you re not a Christian you can try perceive what is good and and what is, is evil.

JEREMY PAXMAN: You don t pray together for example?

TONY BLAIR: No, we don t pray together Jeremy, no.

JEREMY PAXMAN: Why do you smile?

TONY BLAIR: Because -- why do you ask me the question?

JEREMY PAXMAN: Because I m trying to find out how you feel about it.

TONY BLAIR: Possibly.

[Mr Creosote]

10. It's been asked more than once

I seem to recall Mark Mardell pressing him on it as well.