Get lost, Tony!

After 10 long years, Tony Blair is finally leaving Downing Street 10. While some still parrot that he has been a great British prime minister, the reputation of Great Britain in the Middle East has reached freezing point after Britain's participation in the two disastrous wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The fact that Blair refuses to make any self-criticism and blatantly continues to defend the indefensible, shows how far out on limb he his, out of touch with the British people, who wants its government to stop meddling in the Middle East.

Ten years ago Britain welcomed Blair full of hope after long years of Tory government. Blair would bring a fresh wind of change. Guess what? Ten years later Britain is clamoring for change, again. Blair failed to deliver the goods, and his successor Gordon Brown will also fail. He may indeed soften a bit the blind adherence of the British government to the war policies designed in Washington. But the new prime minister has been a long-standing member of Blair's government as Chancellor of the Exchequer and is therefore also responsible for Britain's crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Blair has barely left Downing Street and he's appointed special envoy for the Middle East by the Quartet (U.S., E.U., U.N. and Russia). Of course, the U.S. and Israel believe he would make a good envoy because they are absolutely sure he will defend their interests against the Arab peoples. (The Jerusalem Post: Livni: Blair would be perfect ME envoy) Others see it differently. “His selection for the job takes American policy in the Middle East to new heights of absurdity. [...] The decision is lunacy itself. The guiding question could only have been: who is the most profoundly resented and bitterly hated man in the Middle East. Bar Bush, the honour could only have gone to Blair.” (The Guardian: Adding insult to injury) and (The Times: Mixed welcome awaits Blair in Middle East role). Russia procrastinated a bit but finally relented, which shows the Russian government failed to stand up to Washington. (The Independent: Russians withhold approval of Blair envoy role)

How can Blair, the war criminal, bring any “peace” to the Middle East? Why is he not prosecuted for war crimes, now that he has lost his immunity? “Blair, who supported the American occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan, may not be a man of peace. He will not do anything to support the Palestinian interests but will do everything to support the Israeli occupation,” Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhum told AFP. Indeed.

The big dividing line is now between the big powers (and that unfortunately includes China) and the peoples of the world. The central battlefield: the Middle East...