THE WASHINGTON TIMES: British and European leaders are questioning Tony Blair‘s role as Middle East peace envoy following reports about the former British prime minister’s business links to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and the Middle East.Some have criticized Mr. Blair‘s past consulting deals in the Middle East, such as with Kuwait, and with the South Korean oil company UI Energy Corp., as cashing in on his connections as prime minister.
And two recent articles in London’s Daily Mail and the Telegraph have suggested Mr. Blair has business interests in Libya, indirectly linking him to a tourism company with multimillion-dollar deals in Tripoli and to the Gadhafi regime.
While these reports have not been substantiated, they are enough to cause some disquiet among members of the European Parliament, according to Scottish member Struan Stevenson.
Mr. Blair “has certainly been riding two horses,” Mr. Stevenson said, mentioning his role as peace envoy and his business-advising deals, including those with Tesco and JPMorgan. “And he’s earning a lot in the meantime.”
According to published reports, Mr. Blair has amassed a fortune of $30 million since leaving office in 2007. >>> Michelle Phillips, The Washington Times | Wednesday, June 09, 2010
