Atlantic Community:Global Must Read Article "Blair for EU President! A Chance for Justice?"

George Monbiot, Author | October 28, 2009

This idea of Tony Blair as EU President is an idea abhorrent to many because of his role in launching an illegal war in Iraq and keeping Britain out of the Euro zone. ++ However, his appointment “could do more for world peace than any appointment since the second world war.” ++ It would place him in the spotlight and give courts the chance to prosecute for the illegal use of aggression that has resulted in between 100,000 and 1 million deaths. ++ “The crazy plan to make this mass murderer president could be the chance” for justice.

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Sun, Nov 8th 2009, 23:07

Philip H Tuson, NYU MSGA, Bronze Contributor (14)

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When Tony Blair and the Labour Party came to power in the UK in 1997, the cornerstone of the manifesto was "Education, Education, Education". Twelve years later and the UK remains a backwater of education in Europe and throughout the world, blighted by over-emphasis on league tables, competition for funds, and chronic shortages of quality teaching staff, in no small part due to poor salaries on offer.

A UK that is still largely anti-European is in no small part due to the politics of fear promoted both in the UK and the US, to which the UK sees itself more of an ally through history than it does with Europe. These policies reflect on Mr Blair himself as well as his failure to deliver on other big promises during his tenure as Prime Minister. The blind support of the US led invasion of Iraq went a long way to revealing his true colours and Mr Blair's public presentation was more that of a President in waiting rather than a prime minister. The executive power of the Prime Minister seemed to be disarming to Mr Blair's ambitions, and the continuous manipulation of facts through media spin-doctoring masked over the huge underachievement of the Labour government power. In short, Tony Blair's time in office could be said to be characterised by strong ideas that lacked any substance in delivery.

Whilst Mr Blair is undoubtedly a great 'statesman', I do not believe that his presidency of the EU will strengthen the union nor advance it towards more fearless integration, especially with respect to the UK's continued resistance to acede more power to Brussels. Mr Blair failed to deliver any meaningful change during 10 years in charge in Britain, so to say this would translate well to the position of EU President I find hard to champion.