GW à Blair : restez le plus longtemps possible

Par les temps qui courent, même les plaisanteries ont tout leur poids politique avec Tony Blair, lorsqu’il est question de sa position de Premier ministre. Cela conduit un quotidien comme The Guardian à voir dans une réponse mi-sérieuse mi-ironique de Bush sur la position de Tony Blair à Londres le principal événement de la rencontre Bush-Blair de Washington.

« Tony Blair might be viewed increasingly at home as a leader with a fast-approaching sell-by date but he is seen differently in Washington, with George Bush urging him last night to stay in power “as long as I'm president”.

» The comments came during a joint press conference at the White House during which the two leaders alternated between grave statements on Iraq and some light-hearted mutual ribbing. Midway through the press conference a member of the British press delegation asked Mr Blair if it was “possibly your last official visit to Washington as prime minister”, also quizzing Mr Bush about what in particular he would miss about his close ally.

“Hmm — I'll miss those red ties, is what I'll miss,” Mr Bush began before adding, more seriously: “I know a man of resolve and vision and courage. And my attitude is, I want him to be here so long as I'm the president.” »

Le Times de Londres fait moins d’écho à la réponse de GW mais la mentionne néanmoins avec un commentaire très londonien qui indique bien où, aujourd’hui, Tony Blair peut se sentir chez lui : « Mr Blair, in words that will not be welcomed by Gordon Brown, said he would like to see Mr Blair remain in office until he leaves the White House — in January 2009. »

Plus que jamais apparaît la réalité de l’observation que publiait hier le même Times dans son commentaire sur l’“affaire” de la médaille du Congrès: « In the US he is still seen as a clear-eyed braveheart who swiftly recognised 9/11 as an historical turning point that had profoundly affected the American psyche, and then — better than anyone, including Mr Bush — articulated the case for war. In Britain, however, he is more often regarded these days as a naive and vainglorious fool, the poodle who loyally followed the President and has, consequently, tainted his own premiership with alleged falsehoods and failure. »

Mis en ligne le 26 mai 2006 à 13H22