Tony Blair's getting a medal from Bush for being Presidential Poodle. How shaming - and how lucrative
By Harry Phibbs
In the dog days of his administration President George W Bush will next week award Tony Blair with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US.
A White House spokesman states: 'The president is honouring these leaders for their work to improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad.'
Touching that the White House should apparently be concerned with Tony Blair's domestic endeavours. But just which Blair improvements to the British citizenry do they have in mind?
Tony Blair's close and warm relationship with President Bush was a source of unease and even alarm among some factions of the Labour Party. Now it seems he has been rewarded for his loyalty.
The economy burdened by vast increases in tax, borrowing and regulation? Schools and a police force drowning in bureaucracy while classroom discipline collapses and crime rates soar? Hospitals where vast spending increases didn't appear sufficient to ensure basic standards of hygiene? Immigration and asylum out of control? A democracy eroded by greater spin and the wholesale handover of power to the European Union?
Wiser observers will suspect that these issues are not at the forefront of President Bush's mind. A much more likely reason for the award is gratitude for Tony Blair's support over the Iraq War.
But does he deserve a medal for it? The Anglo American alliance has been of great value. Standing together in the twentieth century it secured the defeat of the twin totalitarian evils of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.
With that success there is all the more reason for the links to be maintained. But true friendship is based on candour not sycophancy.
The relationship between Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher was strong. Their objectives were shared but she was not afraid of speaking her mind when it came to the details of how to achieve them.
Sir Jeremy Greenstock, formally our man in Iraq, said a 'vacuum' was left after the military victory in April 2003 because 'no police force was established.'
Margaret Thatcher would have spotted such details had been missed - and privately handbagged the Americans until it was sorted out.
For Blair the energy went in to making sure the photo-opportunities went smoothly. But then Thatcher was nobody's poodle.
And what of the specifics of the award? The White House says it's for promoting 'democracy, human rights and peace abroad'. What a black joke that must appear to the Iraqis civilians whose casualties the invading forces didn't even bother to count.
Peace? To what, five years after Saddam's downfall, is still one of the most blood-soaked countries on earth.
Human rights? Try telling that to the tortured and abused prisoners in Abu Graib prison. Or the TV journalist severely beaten and now facing a long jail sentence for the crime of throwing his shoes at Bush at a press conference.
Democracy - a vote forced through the House of Commons on a monstrous lie built on Alistair Campbell's dodgy dossiers.
You'd laugh if it wasn't so bleak.
Then who can forget New Labour's contemptible failure to provide our troops with adequate kit.
Blair's spokesman said the award of the medal reflected the 'courage of the men and women of the British armed forces.' Weasel words after Blair sent our troops to Iraq without boots or hats fit for the desert.
Blair's attitude seemed to be that the removal of Saddam Hussein was a worthy objective and he didn't bother himself too much with the details. He appears to be showing a similar level of effectiveness as Middle East envoy charged with securing a peace settlement in the region.
Some feel that Blair is a frustrated actor. There have been plenty of actors who have been given the Medal of Freedom in the past - James Stewart, John Wayne, Charlton Heston, James Cagney. Blair's award seems to be for 'best supporting actor' to Dubya. When it comes to oratory the President has needed some back up.
Apparently each medal is individually designed and minted and Blair has been taking a close interest, agonising over the words and images. All too fitting for a man preoccupied to the last with spin over substance.
Blair's cravenness may have been disastrous for our troops but it has been lucrative for him. Who needs a proper job when you can earn a fortune from lecture tours across America? His Medal of Freedom will do no harm at all when it comes to negotiating the handsome fees.
There are many who now feel that too much of Blair's foreign policy was conducted with one eye on his career after Number 10. Popularity in America guarantees riches and our sun-tanned former Prime Minister's bank balance is booming as the rest of us are caught in the grip of vicious recession.
The Medal of Freedom award will only help boost the Blair coffers. It is yet another shaming footnote to one of the most shameful episodes in our history.
But, as the Presidential Poodle preens himself to accept it, the rest of us will again be reminded that shame is one thing that Tony Blair doesn't do.
