The Persecution of Tony Blair

THE ECONOMIST: Hating the warmongering former prime minister has become a dismal national sport

ONE of the most hated men in Britain gave a speech on April 23rd that was fated to remind Britons why they so hate him. Listening to Tony Blair talk on “Engaging the Middle East”, at a plush City venue, your columnist could almost sense the gathering invective. The former prime minister’s familiar yet still odd mannerisms— the glottalised accent, designed to erase any trace of his privileged roots, the paddle-wheeling hand movements—seemed almost to invite it, so thoroughly is he reviled. But the main problem was the speech itself, in which Mr Blair showed amazingly little appreciation of this.

The big problem in Syria, Iraq, Palestine and elsewhere is militant Islam, he suggested, as if this was previously unremarked upon; and the world needs to do something about that, he said, as if it had not tried. Yet Mr Blair, in this self-promoted “keynote speech”, delivered to a small audience of investors and journalists, suggested no new cure for the blight other than “an international programme to eradicate religious intolerance”. That at least sounded better than reinvading those troubled countries; but surely the United Nations is doing something of the sort already?

If Mr Blair appears obsessed with the great scab on his record, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is no wonder. But he will do himself no good by scratching it. He has little credibility, and will probably never have more, on intervention, the Middle East or Islam. He is busted on such issues—and not only with the pacifists who periodically “arrest” him in return for a crowd-funded bounty from ArrestBlair.org, which now stands at £7,414 ($12,438).

The armed forces, stricken by the overstretch and consequent cuts wrought by Mr Blair’s adventurism, also resent him; the Foreign Office distrusts him. Even his own Labour Party, filled with self-loathing over the wars it was persuaded to agree to, considers its former leader an embarrassment. “What he needs to understand,” says a senior Labour figure, “is that people do not want to hear from him.” » | From the print edition | Bagehot | Saturday, April 26, 2014

Blair Warns of 'Growing' Radical Islam Threat

Tony Blair on Radical Islam "People Who Don’t Share Their Religion Are Enemies" (2012)

Tony Blair: Radical Islam Threat 'Spreading'

Tony Blair warns in a keynote speech that the West must 'take sides' against radical Islam. The ex-British prime minister claims the spread of extremism is hampering efforts at 'peaceful co-existence' while warping the true message of Muslims' faith. Blair was speaking to Bloomberg in London on Wednesday

Related material here and here

Tony Blair: We Don’t Need Backward-thinking Religions

Tony Blair: West Must Take Sides against Growing Threat of Radical Islam

"It is absurd to spend billions of dollars on security arrangements and on defence to protect ourselves against the consequences of an ideology that is being advocated in the formal and informal school systems and in civic institutions of the very countries with whom we have intimate security and defence relationships." – Tony Blair
THE GUARDIAN: In keynote speech on Middle East, former PM blames Islamic extremism for failures of western intervention in region

Western military intervention in the Middle East has so far failed due to the distorting impact of an Islamic extremism so opposed to modernity that it could yet engender global catastrophe, Tony Blair warned on Wednesday in a keynote speech on the state of politics in the Middle East.

With support for intervention ebbing fast, especially in Britain, Blair urges a wilfully blind west to realise it must take sides and if necessary make common cause with Russia and China in the G20 to counter the Islamic extremism that lies at the root of all failures of western intervention.

He admits there is now a desire across the west to steer clear at all costs following the bloody outcomes in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Afghanistan, but says the extremism still represents the biggest threat to global security in the 21st century, saying it is holding back development across Africa and the Far East.

In a speech to Bloomberg in London on Wednesday, the former Labour prime minister claimed the west was reluctant to look unflinchingly at Islamic extremism because the world of politics is uncomfortable talking about religion.

He claims: "For the last 40 to 50 years, there has been a steady stream of funding, proselytising, organising and promulgating coming out of the Middle East, pushing views of religion that are narrow minded and dangerous. Unfortunately we seem blind to the enormous global impact such teaching has had and is having. Read on and comment » | Patrick Wintour, political editor | Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wendi Deng's 'Love Note for Tony Blair' Published

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Wendi Deng, former wife of Rupert Murdoch, wrote about loving Tony Blair's "good body" and "piercing blue eyes"

Wendi Deng, the former wife of Rupert Murdoch, allegedly developed a passionate obsession with Tony Blair and wrote a note in which she rhapsodised about his “good body and really really good legs [and] Butt”.

Miss Deng is said to have become infatuated with the former Prime Minister while she was still married to the media mogul.

In the note, Chinese-born Miss Deng wrote in broken English: “Oh, s***, oh, s***. Whatever why I’m so so missing Tony. Because he is so so charming and his clothes are so good.

“He has such good body and he has really really good legs Butt… And he is slim tall and good skin. Pierce blue eyes which I love. Love his eyes. Also I love his power on the stage… and what else and what else and what else… [all sic]”

The contents of the sensational note are detailed in Vanity Fair magazine, which described it as “a steamy, lovelorn missive”.

Mr Blair has denied all allegations of an affair with Miss Deng. Friends of Miss Deng say the pair were never more than friends. » | Anita Singh, Showbusiness Editor | Wednesday, February 05, 2014

DAILY EXPRESS: Murdoch spitting blood after 'love' note from ex-wife to Tony Blair surfaces: IT has always been one of the weirdest true stories in modern history. ¶ Time was when Rupert Murdoch and leaders of the Labour Party hated each other with a vengeance but in the mid-Nineties Tony Blair shocked the traditional wing of his own party by jetting off to a shindig hosted by the News Corp tycoon on an Australian island. From then on it was kissy-kissy all the way, with Murdoch a frequent visitor to No 10 once Blair was in power. » | Simon Edge | Thursday, February 06, 2014

Tony Blair Praises Egypt Coup as Military Leader Aims for Presidency

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Despite widespread crackdown on opponents and the media, the former prime minister controversially says interim leadership supports 'open-minded society'

Tony Blair has thrown his weight firmly behind Egypt's new military leadership and urged the international community to do the same, after meetings with the country's interim rulers.

During a flying visit to Cairo on Thursday, the former British prime minister told a Gulf-based television channel that the Muslim Brotherhood, rulers of Egypt until a military coup in July, had "tried to take the country away from its basic values of hope and progress".

"The army have intervened, at the will of the people," he told Sky News Arabia. "In order to take the country to the next stage of its development, which should be democratic, we should be supporting the new government in doing that."

Mr Blair met interim president Adly Mansour and military chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el Sisi. The field marshall is widely seen as the power behind the presidency, and enjoys widespread public and institutional backing for a run in Egypt's forthcoming presidential elections.

"We should support those people in the region who want the open-minded society and the modern economy. That means we support the government here in Egypt," said Mr Blair. » | Louisa Loveluck, Cairo | Friday, January 31, 2014

Religious Difference, Not Ideology, Will Fuel This Century's Epic Battles

THE OBSERVER: We must encourage education and tolerance if we are to bring about peace in the Middle East and the rest of the world

The last weeks have seen a ghastly roll call of terror attacks in the obvious places: Syria, Libya, Iraq and Lebanon, as well as Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia and Pakistan. Also suffering are places where we have only in recent years seen such violence: Nigeria, and in many parts of central Africa, in Russia and across central Asia, and in Burma, Thailand and the Philippines. We can either see all of these acts of killing as separate – produced by various political contexts – or we can start to see the clear common theme and start to produce a genuine global strategy to deal with it.

The fact is that, though of course there are individual grievances or reasons for the violence in each country, there is one thing self-evidently in common: the acts of terrorism are perpetrated by people motivated by an abuse of religion. It is a perversion of faith. But there is no doubt that those who commit the violence often do so by reference to their faith and the sectarian nature of the conflict is a sectarianism based on religion. There is no doubt either that this phenomenon is growing, not abating.

We have to be prepared to take the security measures necessary for our immediate protection. Since 9/11, the cost of those measures, and their burden, has been huge. However, security action alone, even military action, will not deal with the root cause. This extremism comes from a source. It is not innate. It is taught. It is taught sometimes in the formal education system; sometimes in the informal religious schools; sometimes in places of worship and it is promoted by a vast network of internet communications.

Technology, so much the harbinger of opportunity, can also be used by those who want to disseminate lessons of hate and division. Today's world is connected as never before. This has seen enormous advances. It means there is a kind of global conversation being conducted. This is exciting and often liberating. But it comes with the inevitable ability for those who want to get across a message that is extreme to do so. This has to be countered. » | Tony Blair | Saturday, January 25, 2014

Related »

Extremist Religion Is at Root of 21st-century Wars, Says Tony Blair

THE OBSERVER: Former prime minister will reignite debate on Iraq as he calls on governments to switch tactics

Tony Blair has reignited debate about the west's response to terrorism with a call on governments to recognise that religious extremism has become the biggest source of conflict around the world.

Referring to wars and violent confrontations from Syria to Nigeria and the Philippines, Blair, writing in the Observer, argues that "there is one thing self-evidently in common: the acts of terrorism are perpetrated by people motivated by an abuse of religion. It is a perversion of faith."

Identifying religious extremism as an ever more dangerous phenomenon, the spread of which is easier in an online age, he says: "The battles of this century are less likely to be the product of extreme political ideology, like those of the 20th century – but they could easily be fought around the questions of cultural or religious difference."

The former prime minister, who led the country into the Iraq conflict in 2003, appears to acknowledge that previous aspirations to export liberal democracy focused too much on political objectives.

But sources close to Blair insist that he is not in any way indulging in a mea culpa over past interventions by the west, including in Iraq. In the future, he writes, "the purpose should be to change the policy of governments; to start to treat this issue of religious extremism as an issue that is about religion as well as politics, to go to the roots of where a false view of religion is being promulgated and to make it a major item on the agenda of world leaders to combine effectively to combat it. This is a struggle that is only just beginning." » | Toby Helm, political editor | Saturday, January 25, 2014

Going Underground: "Blair Committed War Crimes" – Tony Benn

Afshin Rattansi gets the inside track on politics with veteran Labour minister and socialist, Tony Benn. Denouncing illegal wars, Britain's most famous activist gives his take on the current leadership, austerity and what the future holds. Plus, we go underground on the threat of home-grown terrorism in the UK. And how much can you trust those you hand over confidential data to?

Tony Blair Signed Up to Help Albania to Join EU

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Albania has signed up Tony Blair as an adviser and lobbyist in its uphill struggle to join the 28-nation European Union.

Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of the formerly Communist country, said Mr Blair would be “personally, totally and voluntarily” helping his government.

Mr Blair, who was Labour Prime Minister between 1997 and 2007, is considered to be a hero in Albania, a formerly Communist state of just three million people.

He was involved in Nato intervention in Kosovo in 1999, where ethnic Albanians were being attacked by Serb forces.

At the time, many children in the country were named “Tonibler” in his honour.

At a joint briefing in Tirana, Mr Blair – who is not being paid in his new role - said joining the EU is the “right and proper” prospect for the former Communist country.

He said: “The orientation toward Europe is immensely important, and personally I'd love to see this country join the family of European nations.”

Albania first applied for EU candidate status in 2009, when it joined NATO. Read on and comment » | Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent | Thursday, October 03, 2013

My comment:

Tony Blair is committed to the Islamisation of Europe, obviously. Albania is a Muslim majority nation.

Is this a suitable nation to bring into the EU? If I remember correctly, Tone also wants Turkey in the Union. What is this meddlesome man trying to do to us?

The sooner this man retires from politics, the better it will be for all of us. – © Mark

This comment also appears here

Blair Force One: Former Prime Minister Rents £30million Private Jet for Globe-trotting at a Cost of £7,000 An Hour

MAIL ON SUNDAY: The 581mph Bombardier Global Express can seat up to 19 people / It is owned by a mystery businessman who rents it out / Blair has a long history of jet travel including in aircraft owned by Gaddafi

Tony Blair has been spotted globe-trotting in a black and gold jet complete with a state room, lounge and even a kitchen.

The plane is thought to be a top-of-the-range Bombardier Global Express owned by a private businessman which can fly for 13 hours non-stop at 581mph.

It can be rented at a rate of £7,000 an hour, meaning the plane could fly from London to Bangkok - where Mr Blair recently gave a speech - without stopping at a cost of £90,000.

Blair was greeted in Bangkok with protests when it was alleged that the Thai government had paid him £400,000 at attend. The claims have since been denied.

Blair, now multi-millionaire consultant, has also been spotted attending conferences and business engagements in the jet as fair afield as Sardinia and New York state.

Internet plane spotters have also tracked the aircraft to Ukraine, Israel and Switzerland on dates that Blair was due to visit.

Owning a jet has been a longstanding ambition of the former Labour leader who attempted to purchase one at the taxpayer's expense in 2005, until outcry at the £80million costs forced the plan to be shelved.

His high-flying ambitions have since gotten him into trouble when he caught using planes owned by ex-Middle Eastern dictator Colonel Gadaffi between 2008 and 2009. » | Chris Pleasance | Sunday, September 29, 2013

Blair Discusses Middle East Peace Hopes

UK's former PM urges action on Syria and tells Al Jazeera of relaunching peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Muggers Pull Gun On Tony Blair’s Daughter Kathryn As She Walks Dog with Boyfriend

DAILY EXPRESS: TONY Blair's daughter has been held up at gunpoint by two muggers near her home, it was revealed last night.

Barrister Kathryn Blair, 25, came face to face with the thieves as she and her boyfriend were walking their dog.

The two men, one armed with a gun, demanded cash and jewellery before suddenly fleeing empty-handed.

The former Prime Minister’s daughter and her partner were unhurt but were left in a state of shock.

Detectives believe the gunman also carried out an attempted street robbery on his own in the same area 30 minutes earlier.

Officers confirmed a firearm was produced on both occasions although no shots were fired.

Ms Blair and her boyfriend were threatened near her five-storey townhouse in Marylebone, central London, on Monday evening. » | John Twomey | Thursday, September 19, 2013

Tony Blair Attacks Islam as “Fundamentally Extremist” Religion

PRESS TV: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has shamelessly attacked Islam as a “fundamentally extremist” religion, which could threaten future security of the UK.

In an interview with the BBC, Tony Blair lashed out at opposition Labour Party chief Ed Miliband for opposing the coalition government’s push for launching an invasion against Syria, moaning that the country “could become a potent source of extremists”.

The former head of the Labour party, who engineered the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq together with former U.S. president George W. Bush on the pretext of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), acknowledged that the true reason western warmongers are spearheading wars in the Middle East region was fighting Islam.

There is a “fundamental battle about religion and politics within Islam, which has vast consequences for our future security”, Tony Blair claimed.

“The truth is, the reason why Iraq makes us hesitant is because Iraq showed that when you intervene in the circumstances, where you have this radical Islamist issue, both on the Shia side and the Sunni side, you are going to face a very difficult, tough conflict”, the warmonger former premier added. » | MOL/HE | Friday, September 06, 2013

Tony Blair on Syria: Not to Act Is 'Dangerous'

BBC: As arguments for and against military action in Syria continue to dominate the G20 summit in St. Petersburg and proceedings on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tony Blair has explained why he believes intervention is necessary.

Mr Blair, Middle East envoy for the quartet of the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia, said: "It's pretty clear frankly who is responsible for [the chemical attack], and not to act is dangerous.

"You're sending a signal that such a use of chemical weapons can take place, without the international community having a robust, and proper, response." Listen to BBC audio » | Friday, September 06, 2013

The Killing of Tony Blair

"Some people make a living, others make a killing" - an exclusive new documentary on Tony Blair which will break unexplored ground

TH£ KILLING OF TONY BLAIR: A DOCUMENTARY BY GEORGE GALLOWAY »

HT: RickinHK »

From Billionaire's Yacht Blair Urges Syria Attack, But...This War Monger Is the Very Last Man We Should Listen to

MAIL ONLINE: Tony Blair has been having a high old time in Sardinia. Our former Prime Minister — and Special Envoy for the Middle East — was flown to the Mediterranean island in a private jet last Thursday.

He was then whisked to the enormous super-yacht of an American billionaire before visiting two other super-yachts in what was evidently a hectic round of partying and glad-handing. He also managed to squeeze in a few hours in the ‘Eurotrash’ resort of St Tropez on the southern French coast.

Of course, enjoying the hospitality of the super-rich is nothing new for Mr Blair. When he was Prime Minister, and several tens of millions of pounds poorer than he is today, he habitually holidayed with his family in the villas of multi-millionaires.

Despite his busy schedule, Mr Blair has been able to refine his latest thoughts about Syria, which surfaced in yesterday’s Times newspaper. Surprise, surprise, he is strongly in favour of taking action. Since he does not draw any distinction between bombing and invading the country, we may assume he is in favour of both.

Given his record as a warmonger, one might have expected him to tread carefully. He doesn’t.

What is extraordinary is that he does not merely urge what appears to be maximum force. He also sounds eerily like the old Tony Blair, who finagled this country into a disastrous war in Iraq. Read on and comment » | Stephen Glover | Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Tony Blair Calls for Intervention in Syria

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Tony Blair has criticised the Government’s failure to intervene in the conflict in Syria as he called for a no-fly zone in the region and said Britain should consider arming the rebels in the country.

Mr Blair, the former Prime Minister, said that the civil war in Syria has caused more deaths that the conflict in Iraq since 2003.

“Personally I think we should at least consider and consider actively a no-fly zone in Syria,” Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

Mr Blair said: “A refusal to engage, as you see from what’s happening in Syria at the moment, where, after all, as a proportion of the population there’s now been more people that have died in Syria in a civil war that shows absolutely no sign of ending than in the entirety of Iraq since 2003. So, you know, inaction is also a policy and a decision with consequence.” » | Peter Dominiczak, Political Correspondent | Monday, July 08, 2013

My comment:

Old Tone has screwed up the UK and made us bankrupt into the bargain, so now he wants us to use the little money we have left to go and screw up Syria too. The hubris of this codger beggars belief. He is supposed to be a peace envoy for the Middle East, but he's more like a warmonger. Further, there's got to be plenty of money in it for him. This man thinks only of himself and his fortune. We should ignore his advice until such time that we can get him tried in the Hague for crimes against humanity. – © Mark

This comment also appears here