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Teflon Tony?

(18 Posts)
Greatnan Mon 17-Sept-12 08:40:32

He has just been interviewed on the Today programme (not by John Humphries, of course!). When it was suggested that the illegal invasion of Iraq had perhaps worsened relations with Muslim countries, he ignored the purported reason (weapons of mass destruction which could be used against Britain in 45 minutes) and fell back on the fact that Saddam's regime was corrupt. He then suggested that Syria was a similar case and perhaps 'we' ought to intervene. Well, if he wants to get rid of regimes that oppress some of their citizens, he could start with his mates in Saudi, where 50% of the population are denied basic rights.
The sound of his oily voice and his verbal mannerisms make me shudder.

moomin Mon 17-Sept-12 08:53:35

With you on that one Greatnan, despise the man

Bags Mon 17-Sept-12 08:58:03

Likewise. Funny how we've all gone sour on him, when things looked so hopeful in 1997 confused. Wonder how he hid his slimeball characteristics so well.

absentgrana Mon 17-Sept-12 09:17:09

I think the man sees himself as a righteous instigator of political change rather than a deranged bully. How many wars did he involve us in – six, seven?

Mamie Mon 17-Sept-12 09:42:14

Just out of interest, has anyone read Christopher Hitchens on Iraq?

petallus Mon 17-Sept-12 09:48:14

That sounds interesting. I'd like to read it. Is there a link?

Mamie Mon 17-Sept-12 10:14:43

I downloaded his book Hitch 22 onto my Kindle. There is just one chapter about Mesopotamia / Iraq, but the rest of the book was very good too. I think it would at least make people take a slightly more nuanced view of Iraq.

Barrow Mon 17-Sept-12 10:40:27

Never liked the man - even when he was at the height of his popularity I felt he was a self serving slimeball! No, I don't feel any satisfaction in being able to say to people "I told you so". The man was a complete disaster for the country and then he walked away and left us in the hands of that idiot Brown!

Bags Mon 17-Sept-12 11:20:50

Thanks for the recommend, mamie. Hitchens is a great writer. Off to get that book.

gracesmum Mon 17-Sept-12 19:45:15

When DH suffered from low blood pressure we used to try to help by muttering "Tony Blair "or "Gordon Brown" - it usually workedgrin

annodomini Mon 17-Sept-12 19:51:51

If I had low BP (which I don't) the name of Michael Gove would do the trick.

POGS Mon 17-Sept-12 21:09:05

And Oh boy what a wealthy property portfolio and bank account he has amassed for himself! Millions !.

POGS Mon 17-Sept-12 21:12:22

Has anybody else seen the pictures of his country mansion, South Pavillion, in the Chilterns. Absolutely beautiful.

Anagram Mon 17-Sept-12 21:18:33

And yet he's apparently taken a £4.2m loan secured against his family home from JP Morgan, the US bank he advises, even though they paid him £2.5m last year for that advice! Goodness knows what he needs the money for....

POGS Mon 17-Sept-12 21:26:22

Anagram

Does he know something we don't and he needs a good lawyer to fight TuTu in the Hague? hmm

Only joking.

Anagram Mon 17-Sept-12 21:28:15

Well, quite - he wouldn't want to use his own money, would he? grin

annodomini Mon 17-Sept-12 21:47:15

Would he be allowed to use his own money? I suspect that Cherie holds the purse strings. wink

merlotgran Mon 17-Sept-12 22:20:40

Clarissa Dickson Wright, in her autobiograpy Spilling The Beans, makes no secret of her dislike of Tony and Cherie Blair. She knew him well in her early days as a barrister before she succombed to the demon drink and describes how he was regarded as a fantasist and not many had a good word to say about him. They called him Miranda!