Outgoing Blair Gets Praise And Criticism

British PM, Who Will Step Down June 27, Leaves Mixed Legacy After 10 Years In Office

(CBS/AP)  British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a major player on the world stage for a decade, won widespread praise Thursday for defending Kosovo, fighting global warming and overseeing peace in Northern Ireland — but criticism for championing the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Blair announced Thursday he will resign June 27 as prime minister and leader of Britain's Labour Party.

President Bush was effusive about Blair, a crucial ally in the Iraq war, calling him a man who kept his word: "When Tony Blair tells you something, as we say in Texas, you can take it to the bank."

Bush also had kind words for Blair's anticipated replacement, Treasury chief Gordon Brown, saying he "found him to be an easy-to-talk-to, good thinker."

CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said the trans-Atlantic relationship won't likely change much with Blair's departure.

"Nations do not necessarily have friends, they have interests. Tony Blair did what he thought was in Great Britain's interest," said Schieffer. "They will always be our closest ally, no matter who the prime minister there is or who the president of the United States is."

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said: "Blair revitalized his party, modernized his country's economy and its approach to social problems, took the lead on global issues from climate change to debt relief to doubling aid to Africa, to the quest for peace in Northern Ireland and Kosovo, and started the global Third Way political movement."

"I am glad he was there and grateful for our friendship," Clinton said in a statement.

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Watch Blair's Announcement
Sheila MacVicar Reports
Audio: Listen To Blair's Speech

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"Tony Blair has taken Britain from the fringes to the mainstream of the European Union," the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, said. Blair "leaves an impressive legacy including his commitment to enlargement, energy policy, his promotion of action against climate change, and for fighting poverty in Africa."

The local party faithful may still adore him, but the truth is much of Britain has fallen out of love with its prime minister, reports CBS News foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer.

His career was blighted, says Matthew Parris, by one key blunder.

"Iraq, Iraq, Iraq," Parris, a writer for The Times, told Palmer. "It must haunt him through his dreams now, and it will for the rest of his life."

And CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk notes, "Although the Anglo-American relationship will remain strong, Blair's likely successor, Gordon Brown, has strong ties with Democratic Party leaders in the U.S. and his foreign policy is likely to diverge from U.S. policy, particularly in Iraq, and particularly because of the criticism within the U.K. of the war."

On Friday, Blair's office said he had formally endorsed Brown to be prime minister.

"I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister and to endorse him fully," Blair said.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt called Blair a "jovial, easygoing person" and a "fantastic speaker."

Staying in office for 10 years was a major accomplishment, Reinfeldt said. "And to do it in a country with the British press is an accomplishment in its own right," he said.

[neoconrcrazy]

Appeal for Redress

This site is an Appeal For Redress against our mission in Iraq.
An Appeal For Redress is an authorized means for active duty military to submit a grievance to Congress. It can be signed by Active Duty, Reserve, or National Guard military personnel.

The wording of the Appeal for Redress is:
As an American currently serving my nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political leaders in Congress to fully support our Democratic bill for a new direction in Iraq. I also respectfully urge my political leaders to actively support media efforts which increase American support at home. The War in Iraq is unjust, and an illegal effort to occupy the Middle East, thus putting America in danger from further attacks.
If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
Most service members are against the war in Iraq and feel our President is mentally unstable and revelations by our media on how our President lied to us and about our mission serve to increase our support at home against this Bush War, thus diminishing the threat we face and resulting in less American casualties. This Appeal for Redress provides a way in which individual service members can appeal to Congress to fully support us in our determination to stop this madness and actively support media attacks on our deceitful government.
This Appeal will be delivered to members of Congress.
http://www.appealto impeach Bushit.org

[delete91]

Blair's resignation, along with Sarkozy's election in France and Catholic/Protastant unity in Ireland, is an indication of a changing tide. The idea of unity and tolerance shall prevail around the world, and these are positive indicators of such. The U.S. will be a more tolerant, and prosperous country upon the arrival of a new, fresh voice to head our country. The changing of the guard will, hopefully, change other countries' perception of us and foster unity around the world. The status quo under Bush today is makes me discontent.

[delete91]

Blair's resignation, along with Sarkozy's election in France and Catholic/Protastant unity in Ireland, is an indication of a changing tide. The idea of unity and tolerance shall prevail around the world, and these are positive indicators of such. The U.S. will be a more tolerant, and prosperous country upon the arrival of a new, fresh voice to head our country. The changing of the guard will, hopefully, change other countries' perception of us and foster unity around the world. The status quo under Bush today is makes me discontent.

[skyk-2009]

Tony Blair was an Excellent Leader who bought into the Bush Agenda. That was his lone failure and may stain an otherwise successful term.

[book54552134]

Blair's departure is long overdue.
Unlike Dubya, Blair doesn't strike me as being a particularly stupid person. One would think he would have known better than to allow Dubya to talk him into participating in that quagmire in Iraq.
I guess it's easy to forget just how much power the US Embassy in London has to sway the British into doing exactly what the State Dept. wants them to do.

[bigsk8fan]

No neocons exclaiming joy today. Wonder why?

The neocons were so happy when a "conservative" was elected in France. Unbeknownst to neocons, the new "conservative" French leader is on record as being "wary" of Bush. But the neocons were happy thinking of another "conservative" foreign leader. After all, labels are the most important things to neocons!

Not much way for neocons to claim victory with Blair's departure. But let's just wait and see what kind of "logic" they can come up with.

[antoniof123]

We are in a war that seems to have no end and Blair is leaving that is one more good thing. He may have been a good leader at one time but it seems the longer they stay the more full of themselves they become. Too bad he didn't end his career before he took GB to war. Like it was said another career ending in discrace by this administration. They will not go down in history they will go down in infamy.

[luvny-2009]

See ya Blair, too bad you were stupid enough to be Bush's little puppet. Any chance you could take Bush with you? See must be your Mother never told you to be careful who you play with and hang out with because they can get you into trouble and that's exactly what happened!

[amazedd]

Salve, Anthony!

[cburn665]

Mr. President, here's your lead!

[duhrer]

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Interesting, the queen visited GW and at the end of the week Blair resigns.

[candojj1]

It is time to give Britain back to the Conservatives and Lady Thatcher's choice would have been?

New Labor will return Britain to the old Welfare state that it was. Th economic reforms of Thatcher wlll be undone and the past will be repeated. Inflation will again reach 18% with unemployment reaching 5 million.

I would expect no less than a policy of decreased state intervention via the free market economy, monetarist economic policy, privatization of state-owned industries, lower direct taxation and higher indirect taxation, opposition to trade unions, and a reduction of the size of the Welfare State. Those policies are what nmade Britain strong as a result of Thatcher and have slowly been unraveling under New Labor.

Sure the country likes the return to the old ways, but it was a prescription for disaster as was witnessed in the late 70's when inflation hit 18% and the VAT had to be raised, people lost their manufacturing jobs, 5 million unemployed.

Just beware the Labor party.

[barbaraf4]

"Tony Blair was an Excellent Leader who bought into the Bush Agenda. That was his lone failure and may stain an otherwise successful term."
Posted by skyk at 07:20 AM : May 10, 2007

Well said. His association with Bush has destroyed his career. He brought British support to the US (remember his 9/11 speech to Parliment?) and in doing so, he became entangled in Bush's web.

[cwbyht]

Well done Mr. Blair. And Mr. Bush is a great president despite the deluded rantings of liberal naysayers

[cwbyht]

Well done Mr. Blair. And Mr. Bush is doing a great job also contrary to the deluded rantings of Pelosi driven liberals.

[nolalou]

Somebody get cwbyht a doctor! He thinks Bush is a 'great president'. cwbyht is obviously suffering from delusions!

[bigsk8fan]

"It is time to give Britain back to the Conservatives . . . Just beware the Labor party." Posted by bbbbbfan

Boy, I bet our neocon conservatives think this is good for W and USA conservatives. Just a couple of days ago they were so happy that a French "conservative" won. Nevermind that neither the French or British "conservatives" will support Bush. Both are on record against Bush policies and the Iraq war.

But our neocons will only be able to see the label "Conservative". So let's let them enjoy their "victory".

Deeds, not Words

For a USA Conservative it is "LABELS, NOT SUBSTANCE"

[huskerarmy]

The Downing Street memo's will be a significant part of his legacy...

[suecostarn]

What a shame Blair feels he has to step down. He has influenced some amazing changes and done so much good, no one sees it due to the war in Iraq. Give him the due he deserves. He has done wonders for the Royal family and is a good and decent man who fights for all that is good. I will miss him.

[drummer94]

The only thing GW was "great" at was being a moron! Wanna wager on how long it'll take for the brits to boogie from George's "war"?

[suecostarn]

What a shame Blair feels he has to step down. He has influenced some amazing changes and done so much good, no one sees it due to the war in Iraq. Give him the due he deserves. He has done wonders for the Royal family and is a good and decent man who fights for all that is good. I will miss him.

[suecostarn]

What a shame Blair feels he has to step down. He has influenced some amazing changes and done so much good, no one sees it due to the war in Iraq. Give him the due he deserves. He has done wonders for the Royal family and is a good and decent man who fights for all that is good. I will miss him.

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[gfox67]

Thanks, Prime Minister Blair for your wonderful leadership during a time of war! We need more world leaders who will stand for what they believe is right, despite the critics. Congrats.... on a JOB WELL DONE!!!

[drummer94]

gfox; You can take your paw off the publish button now.

[nothappyatall]

"Blair has seen his once iconic popularity in British politics deflate rapidly in the last five years, thanks, undeniably, to his alliance with President Bush in waging the Iraq war. Few in the British public still support the war, and many feel strongly that Blair was either manipulated by Mr. Bush, or manipulated his own country to support the invasion over a fear of weapons of mass destruction. "

He is nothing but a Bush croney sucking up the Bush fat and corruption, good riddanc to him and hopefully good riddance to Bush soon too.

[king77shaw]

another casualty of the neo-con agenda - good riddance ... the more fascists that fall, the better !

[nolalou]

Tony Blair had some notable accomplishments, such as the negotiated peace agreement in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, he may be remembered more for his big failure, deciding to be the lap dog of George W. Bush and his disastrous misadventure in Iraq!

[king77shaw]

another casualty of the neo-con agenda. Good Riddance ! the more fascists that fall, the better !!

[nolalou]

king77shaw ,

You may dissagree with Blair, as I do when it comes to his Iraq policy, but to call him a 'fascist' is unfair, and shows you have no idea what the word means! Other than the Iraq war, Blair and his Labor party are more to left in most policies than our Democratic Party in the US.

With Blair steping down, the Labor Party will choose a new leader to replace him, since new elections don't have to be held until 2010. (but there is pressure to have them occur earlier). It is likely the Labor party will stay in power at least until then. The big question is what will the next Prime Minister do about Iraq, and how will he deal with President Bush.

[wolf563]

SAD TO SEE HIM GO

[citizenusa-2009]

We may be the most prosporous country in the world, but we are clearly the most ignorant. Bush and Chaney are clearly meglomaniacs who will take anyone down with them; The people of England literally BEGGED us not to re elect Bush and we chose to ignore their warnings. Tony Blair too believed in these two "nut jobs" and it cost him his entire career. IMPEACHMENT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION HERE FOLKS.

[hungry1968]

Without his "support", we probably wouldn't be in the disaster that he co-created in Iraq with Bush. He's just another Bush puppet. Good riddance.

[king77shaw]

another casualty of the neo-con agenda. Good Riddance ! the more fascists that fall, the better !!

[kopana]

This is some really good news for Western Europe and the world, there is nothing worst in a political leader than a "turncoat". Blair was a puppet of Bush and made million if not billions of dollars profit through this connection. I know that he is laughing all the way to the bank with his blood money from those killed in Iraq, and he helped to created new terrorists under the Bush world policy. What has he accomplishment???

[suecostarn]

What a shame Blair feels he has to step down. He has influenced some amazing changes and done so much good, no one sees it due to the war in Iraq. Give him the due he deserves. He has done wonders for the Royal family and is a good and decent man who fights for all that is good. I will miss him.

[king77shaw]

fascist means corporatist, which is what they were called in Italy before being referred to as fascists - meaning corporations should rule not people ... that's what Iraq is all about - a corporate takeover, a privatization of their resources so the profits can flow to the huge multi-nationals that own the US and British governments ... so yes, I know what a fascist is and yes, Blair is one ...

[king77shaw]

nolalou -

fascist means corporatist, which is what they were called in Italy before being referred to as fascists - meaning corporations should rule not people ... that's what Iraq is all about - a corporate takeover, a privatization of their resources so the profits can flow to the huge multi-nationals that own the US and British governments ... so yes, I know what a fascist is and yes, Blair is one ...

[narfull]

Tony Blair is a class act and a leader. Ironically, as much as he served as an intelligent advocate for the disastrous Iraq War--compared to the Bush moronocracy--we must honor him for his loyalty and friendship to U.S. He backed up his support with British troops and blood; unfortunately, in this case he would have served our country better by acting more like the French. Bravo for his accomplishments in Northern Ireland and in leading his country to prosperity.

[tejasdemo]

Dfont let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.

Thanks for killin lots of people. See ya on the book circuit

[djermano1]

Good riddens Tony poodle Blair. Sounds like a dent fender on rusty car waiting for an accident. Now if you could only convince your pal GWBush to follow you out the door. Better yet you would do the world a favor and redeem yourself if you supported impeachment to Bush and syndicate.

[djermano1]

Good riddens Tony poodle Blair. Sounds like a dent fender on rusty car waiting for an accident. Now if you could only convince your pal GWBush to follow you out the door. Better yet you would do the world a favor and redeem yourself if you supported impeachment to Bush and syndicate.