Outgoing Blair Gets Praise And Criticism

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

(CBS/AP)  Reinfeldt said the Iraq war led to Blair's eventual demise, and that his decision to join the 2003 invasion was likely influenced by the notion that "every British prime minister has a historical duty to be very close to the American administration."

"It is no easy task to make fundamentally different policy assessments (from the U.S.) on important foreign policy matters," he said.

White House press secretary Tony Snow called Blair "an extraordinary leader," and praised him for maintaining "a long tradition of an alliance that is of extraordinary strategic importance. And we certainly appreciate everything he has done."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who helped lead the U.S. push for war, said, "He has been steadfast in the face of negative public opinion, and in the face of crises he's stood steady. And we could always count on him."

Blair's cabinet members and political allies say the prime minister has accomplished a remarkable amount, not least the swearing-in earlier this week of new Northern Ireland ministers to lead a power-sharing government of the province's long-warring Catholics and Protestants.

In former colony India, Blair won praise for supporting its bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

"He was able to achieve the Northern Ireland peace agreement. There is quite a lot for him to take credit for. But then Iraq is perhaps the worst blunder," said K. Subrahmanyam, a former member of India's National Security Council and a leading defense analyst.

In Kosovo, Blair is credited with leading and building international consensus to stop the crackdown by Serb forces on the ethnic Albanian majority in 1999. When he visited the province shortly after British forces deployed in Kosovo following the war, hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians gathered to thank him.

"We are grateful and thankful for his extraordinary contribution," said Ulpiana Lama, Kosovo's government spokeswoman. "He made the Kosovo issue in 1999 a priority of foreign policy."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe praised Blair's record on education and economic development.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Blair helped make Britain "one of Europe's best functioning economies."

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana expressed hope that Blair's successor would be "good for his country no doubt but also good for Europe. I think that Europe is going through a very important moment."

French President Jacques Chirac, who had rocky relations with the British prime minister, made no statement but was to host Blair in Paris on Friday.

Chirac "will receive the prime minister and tell him directly the price that France attaches to its relations with the United Kingdom," a Chirac aide said on condition of anonymity.

The departure of the two leaves Europe with new management in two of its biggest economic, military and diplomatic powers. Blair has better relations with Nicolas Sarkozy, taking over from Chirac next week, and will meet with Sarkozy also Friday.

John Nagenda, a senior adviser to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, said Blair's efforts to fight poverty in Africa — another of his major policy initiatives — had produced little.

"He created high sounding committees full of celebrities but if these ever translated into concrete actions, they passed me by and I'm a wide awake kind of guy," he said, calling Blair's departure "a very overdue move."

In 2006, Britain was among several wealthy nations that cut millions in aid to the Ugandan government, saying that Museveni has mishandled the transition to multiparty politics.

[Mohammad Ilyas]

Mr.Blair could not bear the burden of friendship of Mr.Bush however he was an honourable man who stoodby with him upto the last. He resigned but but did not deny.

[brit-ifidel]

Tony Blair has been a good prime minister for the Uk
My life in the Uk has seen great improvements over the past 10 years.
We have shaken off the loser mentality that existed in our country and have become a little more dynamic.
Some say otherwise but I think they are the sort of people who take great comfort in blaming him for their own failings and disappointments in life.

I think Blair was trying too hard to be a good friend to the US and took his eye off the ball regarding Iraq.

Iraq was obviously a tactical & misguided mistake for Blair. We should have just focused on the Afganastan and kept world opinion on our side.

Well I guess we will only know for sure in years to come whether Tony was really mistaken or not.

[brit-ifidel]

Tony Blair has been a good prime minister for the Uk
My life in the Uk has seen great improvements over the past 10 years.
We have shaken off the loser mentality that existed in our country and have become a little more dynamic.
Some say otherwise but I think they are the sort of people who take great comfort in blaming him for their own failings and disappointments in life.

I think Blair was trying too hard to be a good friend to the US and took his eye off the ball regarding Iraq.

Iraq was obviously a tactical & misguided mistake for Blair. We should have just focused on the Afganastan and kept world opinion on our side.

Well I guess we will only know for sure in years to come whether Tony was really mistaken or not.

[drinuk]

Jeeez! What a load of utter C R A P! The man is a two faced liar, responsible for Genocide. A Wolf in Sheeps clothing if ever there was one. Get this straight, the man is not leaving graciously, he is being Kicked Out, Told to Leave, prior to several very damaging enquires.
He has done MY nation untold damage, opened the doors to every scrounger and criminal from Eastern Europe and countries like Somalia. Taxed the British people out of exsistence and totally wasted that money. He has spent the last Ten Years enjoying a giant Ego Trip, he is a control freak no different to those he once worshiped who once led Eastern Europe. He is a Back Door Commie.

[andrew_693]

thank you for staying in iraq? wow I guess this moron didn't read the news for about a month let me update you.....they are leaving!!!! update your newspaper!!! they are already leaving Irak. By December there won't be a single brit in irak you are on your own!! some allied that was. The most unpopular leader in history of the UK probably.

[randalds]

Thank you Prime Minister Blair for sticking to what you believe, despite the critics during this time of war. You are to be commended for a JOB WELL DONE.

To bad some of our other wimpy spineless cowardly world leaders don't follow your example.
Posted by gfox67 at 09:23 PM : May 10, 2007

Tell it to the families of innocent civilians he and Bush murdered. He should leave office and right into prison along with his master, George W. Bush. Gordon Brown had better have bigger balls and stand up to Bush. GB doesn't need a new poodle.

[randalds]

Thank you Prime Minister Blair for sticking to what you believe, despite the critics during this time of war. You are to be commended for a JOB WELL DONE.

To bad some of our other wimpy spineless cowardly world leaders don't follow your example.
Posted by gfox67 at 09:23 PM : May 10, 2007

Tell it to the families of innocent civilians he and Bush murdered.

[michellem99-2009]

As an American,I wish him the best as he leaves office. I feel Bush needs to step down and head back home. Mr. Blair did what was best for the UK.He earned the honours his nation gave him. Now we need to impreach Bush. Got out of the middle east where we don't belong. I hate bullies.

[hungry1968]

To bad some of our other wimpy spineless cowardly world leaders don't follow your example.
Posted by gfox67 at 09:23 PM : May 10, 2007

Are you referring to President Bush following his example to quit? I wish he would...

[nearl4511]

SOmething wrong with this website?

[nearl4511]

I have mixed feelings about Blair.

He seemed to be a pretty good politician, but followed the lead of two American Presidents, such that I don't know how much he could stand up on his own.

For those that like Bush, recall that Tony sounded so much like Clinton, while he was President that he was commonly called Blinton.

Then along came W and he became known as Bush's lapdog (Blush, if you will).

He really did not stick to his guns on Iraq, in the end, but in being involved their brought terrorism home to England.

Interesting Fellow, but I am not sure what he will be remembered for 20 years from now.

[nearl4511]

I have mixed feelings about Blair.

He seemed to be a pretty good politician, but followed the lead of two American Presidents, such that I don't know how much he could stand up on his own.

For those that like Bush, recall that Tony sounded so much like Clinton, while he was President that he was commonly called Blinton.

Then along came W and he became known as Bush's lapdog (Blush, if you will).

He really did not stick to his guns on Iraq, in the end, but in being involved their brought terrorism home to England.

Interesting Fellow, but I am not sure what he will be remembered for 20 years from now.

[agnim]

"Outgoing Blair Gets Praise And Criticism"

GOOD RIDDANCE TO A MASS MURDERING DEVIL OF IRAQI WOMEN AND CHILDREN!

GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH! LOL

[gfox67]

Thank you Prime Minister Blair for sticking to what you believe, despite the critics during this time of war. You are to be commended for a JOB WELL DONE.

To bad some of our other wimpy spineless cowardly world leaders don't follow your example.

[hsinco-2009]

Iraq will be an albatross around Tony's neck just as it will be for all the other Bu$hies.

Iraq defines these people.

Bush's lapdog, Blair, is another victim of the war in Iraq.

In this instance, his own party stood up to him long ago and told him that he was no longer wanted as their leader and they wanted him gone.

Even Blair knew that he would not win at the next British election, so he offered to stand down instead of getting thrown out by his own Labor party.

Once he is gone, the next leader will begin the withdrawal process - and Bush will be left alone (except for that Australian kiss a$$ Howard).

[lars008-2009]

coming to a school near you...

NEVER FORGET THE RAPES OF BESLAN GIRLS!

Terror at Beslan
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1316935651894423094

RAPES IN BESLAN: IN MUHAMMAD%u2019S FOOTSTEPS
http://www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Trifkovic04/NewsST091304.html

Forget Not the Children of Beslan
http://kenlydell.typepad.com/islamic_evil/forget_not_the_children_of_beslan/index.html

Religion of Peace??? More like a cult of death.
http://www.terrorists-suck.org/why_suck/beslan.html

Radical Islamists must be stopped:
comments on the Beslan child slaughter.
http://www.sullivan-county.com/immigration/list.htm

[middleman8]

WITH A WAVE AND AN IPANNA TOOTH SMILE THE LIAR HAS LEFT OFFICE FOR A GRAND PENSION AND BE LOOKED AFTER THE REST OF HIS LIFE. IT MAKES THE TROOPS WHO SACRFICED SO MUCH FOR NOTHIN, OUT TO BE GRAND SUCKERS.

[emhawks]

I've read several articles about Blair being seriously considered for membership in the Carlyle Group.


Seems appropriate.

[emhawks]

I've read several articles about Blair being seriously considered for membership in the Carlyle Group.


Seems appropriate.