Did Tony Blair REALLY have a choice over Iraq?

[max_tranmere]

I was thinking about this recently, bearing in mind we feel we have an obligation to support the Americans in whatever they do I think Tony Blair may have felt he had little choice but to go along with it. Any other Prime Minister would have done the same, I think. The Americans helped us massively in World War 2, supported us in the Falklands, and if anything bad ever happened to Britain they would help us to the ends of the earth.

In their hour of need, after 9/11, I think Blair felt obliged to get behind the Americans in whatever they did as a response. Even though Saddam and Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, whatever the Americans did subsequently Blair would get involved in. I wouldn't be surprised if you were a fly on the wall in the Blair's private flat in Downing Street you may have heard him say to his missus Cherie "I don't think we should do this, I don't see much merit in it, but we will always support our friends the Americans". Blair the politician did what he felt he ought to do, and this suggests any other Prime Minister would have done the same in the same circumstances.

One exception to this sort of thing though is Vietnam in the 1970's. I believe Harold Wilson was our PM then, and we didn't assist the Americans in that one. Do people think Blair did have a real choice over Iraq, do you think Blair privately was likely not in favour? Would any PM have done the same in Blair's shoes, and also how did we NOT send troops to Vietnam in the 1970's if we always get behind the Americans?

Some questions there. Personally I think Blair felt he had no option as the Americans have always helped us, he probably said to Cherie a few times privately that he didn't think it was a good thing to do, and I also think any other PM would have supported the Americans in whatever they did subsequent to 9/11.

[David Johnson]

"Did Blair really have a choice over Iraq?

Yes.

[max_tranmere]

You say 'yes', but did he? As I've detailed above I feel he had an obligation to go along with America. We always support them and they always support us. I am very interested though how we avoided getting involved in Vietnam in the 1970's.

[David Johnson]

You are wrong Max. You only have to look at Blair's attitude since stopping being Prime Minister - in favour of military action here, there and everywhere.

Bush was clearly preaching to the converted re. war in Iraq.

[max_tranmere]

Would Bush and the Americans been fine with it, and still regarded Blair as an ally, and still viewed Britain as 'our number one friend', if Blair had put his foot down and said to Bush 'no!'. I wonder. It could have caused a huge rift.

[Arginald Valleywater]

Blair works for the CIA and JP Morgan. He was so far up GWB's arse you could barely see his feet. Of course he had no choice, look at how rich his American friends have made him since he left office. Worst leader this country has ever had.

[max_tranmere]

It was always disturbing seeing Blair as Bush's poodle. He looked like the interior, meek, put-upon, of the pair - while that moron G W Bush, a completely unqualified bafoon who only got where he did because of family connections, called the shots on everything. I wouldn't say Blair was the worst leader we've ever had, I would say Bush is the worst leader America ever had though.

[Essex Lad]

I don't often say this but I'm 100% with David Johnson on this ? of course, Blair had a choice.

What makes you think the Americans see us as their "number one friend"? No one but NO ONE in America speaks of a special relationship with Britain, it's only ever heard here. If America has a special relationship with any country, it's Israel. Too often since 1917, America has sided us against us.

By the way, it was Wilson as PM in the 60s who did not get involved in the Vietnam War, not the 70s. He said no to LBJ who left office in January 1969.

[max_tranmere]

"What makes you think the Americans see us as their "number one friend"? No one but NO ONE in America speaks of a special relationship with Britain, it's only ever heard here."

You are wrong. American politicans often speak of 'the special relationship' between us and them, something which has existed since World War 2. George H W Bush, the father of that wombat G W Bush who later became President, said numerous times (when he was President) that America has no closer friend than Britain, and similar statements. Look also at how close Thatcher and Reagan were.

"By the way, it was Wilson as PM in the 60s who did not get involved in the Vietnam War, not the 70s. He said no to LBJ who left office in January 1969."

I wasn't aware of the exact date, I thought it was the 1970's for some reason. I am interested how Harold Wilson said 'no' when other leaders here always bow down to the Americans - be it Blair over Iraq, Thatcher allowing American nukes to be stationed here and allowing American planes to take off from bases here in the 1980's to bomb Libya, etc.

[Essex Lad]

max_tranmere wrote:

> "What makes you think the Americans see us as their "number one
> friend"? No one but NO ONE in America speaks of a special
> relationship with Britain, it's only ever heard here."
>
> You are wrong. American politicans often speak of 'the special
> relationship' between us and them, something which has existed
> since World War 2. George H W Bush, the father of that wombat G
> W Bush who later became President, said numerous times (when he
> was President) that America has no closer friend than Britain,
> and similar statements. Look also at how close Thatcher and
> Reagan were.

Really? Find me some examples where an American politician has specifically used the words "special relationship" to describe the UK and USA.

Mrs Thatcher and Reagan were close as were Blair and Clinton but I challenge you to find examples of Reagan or Clinton referring to the "special relationship"...