Odd Minister Out
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s blogging, I thought I might continue on with the politics thingamablogging. And here we have some news about our buddy in the UK, Tony Blair. So far, things aren’t going bad enough for him I guess, what with him getting a retirement plan after critics made life hell for him for not being strong enough on the war on terror. Now, it looks like he’s being publicly hated for being involved at all:
ABOUT 1500 Lebanese citizens have protested against British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Beirut, accusing him of backing Israel's 34-day war with Hezbollah guerillas.
Troops, riot police and barbed-wire barriers kept the demonstrators well away from the government building in downtown Beirut where Mr Blair met Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
He was discussing with Mr Siniora a UN truce in effect since August 14 and Britain's contribution to postwar reconstruction.
Mr Blair angered many Lebanese by his refusal to call for an early ceasefire in the conflict which killed nearly 1200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
MISTER Blair, as they so formally address him in this article, has a knack for this kind of behavior it seems. According to what I’ve heard before, MISTER Blair didn’t do much in terms of responding to the subway bombings in London. MISTER Blair hasn’t, in my mind at least, done enough to deserve this sort of humiliation, but whatever.
Security sources said about 1500 people had turned out for the protests, organised by Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies.
"I'm standing here because Blair is the killer of Lebanese children," said Ibad Malak, a 19-year-old student.
"Beirut is free, Blair out," chanted the protesters. Some carried placards reading "Thank you Blair for delivering the intelligent bombs" - referring to US flights laden with bombs for Israel that refuelled in Scotland during the war.
"Blair you killer, go to hell," read another placard.
You know, I find it kinda scary that these folks seem to have adopted the same kinds of protest scare tactics that the anti-war folks here in the United States do. The difference being that these guys are organized by the Hezbollah.
"Tony Blair supports America and Israel and has supported the war, so how can we welcome him here," said Ali Shahine, 21, a hotel worker who was among the protesters.
Mr Blair had been due to meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, but an aide to the Shi'ite Muslim leader said he had left on a private visit abroad on Saturday.
The aide would not say whether Mr Berri had deliberately snubbed Mr Blair, but said his trip had been previously planned.
An aide to Mr Blair said two Hezbollah ministers had declined to attend a planned meeting of the British leader with the Lebanese government.
Mr Blair had no plans to meet pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud during his visit.
Top Shi'ite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Sunday Mr Blair was not welcome because of his support for Israel and Washington.
OK, so Blair went to meet with a pro-Syria president of Lebanon and got attacked by pro-Syria protesters. No doubt, he was trying to do something diplomatic and yet he got stifled by these hooligans. Honestly, what’s up with these folks?
ABOUT 1500 Lebanese citizens have protested against British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Beirut, accusing him of backing Israel's 34-day war with Hezbollah guerillas.
Troops, riot police and barbed-wire barriers kept the demonstrators well away from the government building in downtown Beirut where Mr Blair met Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
He was discussing with Mr Siniora a UN truce in effect since August 14 and Britain's contribution to postwar reconstruction.
Mr Blair angered many Lebanese by his refusal to call for an early ceasefire in the conflict which killed nearly 1200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
MISTER Blair, as they so formally address him in this article, has a knack for this kind of behavior it seems. According to what I’ve heard before, MISTER Blair didn’t do much in terms of responding to the subway bombings in London. MISTER Blair hasn’t, in my mind at least, done enough to deserve this sort of humiliation, but whatever.
Security sources said about 1500 people had turned out for the protests, organised by Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies.
"I'm standing here because Blair is the killer of Lebanese children," said Ibad Malak, a 19-year-old student.
"Beirut is free, Blair out," chanted the protesters. Some carried placards reading "Thank you Blair for delivering the intelligent bombs" - referring to US flights laden with bombs for Israel that refuelled in Scotland during the war.
"Blair you killer, go to hell," read another placard.
You know, I find it kinda scary that these folks seem to have adopted the same kinds of protest scare tactics that the anti-war folks here in the United States do. The difference being that these guys are organized by the Hezbollah.
"Tony Blair supports America and Israel and has supported the war, so how can we welcome him here," said Ali Shahine, 21, a hotel worker who was among the protesters.
Mr Blair had been due to meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, but an aide to the Shi'ite Muslim leader said he had left on a private visit abroad on Saturday.
The aide would not say whether Mr Berri had deliberately snubbed Mr Blair, but said his trip had been previously planned.
An aide to Mr Blair said two Hezbollah ministers had declined to attend a planned meeting of the British leader with the Lebanese government.
Mr Blair had no plans to meet pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud during his visit.
Top Shi'ite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah said on Sunday Mr Blair was not welcome because of his support for Israel and Washington.
OK, so Blair went to meet with a pro-Syria president of Lebanon and got attacked by pro-Syria protesters. No doubt, he was trying to do something diplomatic and yet he got stifled by these hooligans. Honestly, what’s up with these folks?
posted by Jaimetud at 6:30 PM
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