Tony Blair est-il plus à l’aise avec les tricots Burberry à £90 qu’avec la politique israélienne de GW ?

Les temps ont donc changé. Tony Blair, usé jusqu’à la corde, n’est plus du tout à l’aise dans sa position de soutien inconditionnel à la ligne US, lorsque celle-ci se résume à un soutien inconditionnel à la ligne israélienne. D’où cet étonnant épisode : un ministre de Blair condamne nettement la politique israélienne au Liban et le soutien US ; Tony Blair fait dire que tout va à peu près bien avec Washington mais qu’il ne désavoue absolument pas son ministre, loin de là, et qu’il penserait peut-être bien la même chose. Entre-temps, on apprend qu’il (Blair) a téléphoné à Olmert pour le presser de restreindre l’action d’Israël.

Il devient donc désormais extrêmement urgent et compliqué de comprendre la position du Royaume-Uni dans cette affaire. Une sorte de fog traditionnel, où l’on vous dit qu’on est 100% avec les Américains et où l’on condamne la politique soutenue à 100% par les Américains.

Vendredi prochain, Blair rencontre GW. “Yo, Blair”, lui dira GW, qui lui parlera du tricot Burberry que Blair, assez radin pour l’occasion, lui a offert à Saint-Petersbourg (selon le Daily Telegraph : « Retailing at £90, the cotton pullover is one of the cheapest to be found in any Burberry outlet. It is, however, part of the new collection in the Burberry London range. »)

Selon The Observer et pour revenir à des choses moins sérieuses, le dernier tournant en double S ou en simple W de Tony Blair:

« Britain dramatically broke ranks with George Bush last night over the Lebanon crisis, publicly criticising Israel's military tactics and urging America to 'understand' the price being paid by ordinary Lebanese civilians.

» The remarks, made in Beirut by the Foreign Office minister, Kim Howells, were the first public criticism by this country of Israel's military campaign, and placed it at odds with Washington's strong support. The Observer can also reveal that Tony Blair voiced deep concern about the escalating violence during a private telephone conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, last week. But sources close to Blair said Olmert had replied that Israel faced a dire security threat from the Hizbollah militia and was determined to do everything necessary to defeat it. (...)

» Downing Street sources said last night that Blair still believed Israel had every right to respond to the missile threat, and held the Shia militia responsible for provoking the crisis by abducting two Israeli soldiers and firing rockets into Israel. But they said they had no quarrel with Howells's scathing denunciation of Israel's military tactics.

» Speaking to a BBC reporter before travelling on for talks in Israel, where he will also visit the missile-hit areas of Haifa and meet his Israeli opposite number, Howells said: “The destruction of the infrastructure, the death of so many children and so many people: these have not been surgical strikes. If they are chasing Hizbollah, then go for Hizbollah. You don't go for the entire Lebanese nation.” The minister added: “I very much hope that the Americans understand what's happening to Lebanon.” (...)

« Britain's decision to break ranks publicly with the Americans will cause deep concern in Jerusalem, and a senior Israeli diplomat was at pains last night to play down any suggestion of a rift. He said it would be wrong to interpret Olmert's response to Blair's telephone call as a rebuff. “The tone was very positive. We agree on all major aspects of this crisis and are greatly appreciative of Britain's position.” »

Mis en ligne le 23 juillet 2006 à 13H23