Blair's new role a gift to al-Qaida?

Tony Blair's new role as peace envoy in the middle east, representing the US, EU, Russia and UN was welcomed by the US and Israel. Some of the region's authoritarian regimes like Egypt and Jordan will accept it but probably the warmest welcome will come from al-Qaida.

Photos: Bibury swans: nothing to do with this blog entry but looked good a couple of weeks ago.

This is surely a great gift. This high-profile figure with his unwavering support for the unjust war in Iraq and intimate association with the enemy in Washington has been launched into the Muslim and Arab heartland. Despite Blair's impressive role in helping to bring peace in Northern Ireland, this will be seen as the west continuing support for Israel and not seeking a genuine peace settlement with the Palestinians. Blair cannot possibly be taken seriously by much of the middle east, let alone amongst the more radical factions.

The US continues it's substantial arms sales to Israel, abundant military aid, joint weapons projects and joint counterinsurgency training for Israeli and American troops. Israel presides over an unlawful occupation of Palestine which leads to state-sponsored terrorism and systemic human rights abuses against Palestinians. We are long overdue the time that Israel should conform to all previous UN security council resolutions and end the occupation.

Blair has shown only too often that he is unwilling or unable to stand up to the US: if his new role is to be successful he will need to learn how to do that.