Responding to Monday’s “open mike” incident in Russia, The Guardian said Blair “all but offers to carry [Condoleezza Rice’s] bags” to the Middle East (Bush denied him), revealing Blair’s subservient role in the relationship. (article, British press reactions)

  • Not to mention the fact that Bush carried on the conversation about one of the most dangerous powder kegs in the world while chewing with an open mouth and barely looking at Blair.

    • Reuters:

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair was roundly mocked as a U.S. poodle on Tuesday after an off-the-cuff chat with President George W. Bush was accidentally broadcast.

    Bush and Blair enjoyed a gossip over lunch at the Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg on Monday, unaware that a microphone in front of them was switched on and their words would be relayed around the world.

    Breaking with diplomatic formalities, Bush hailed Blair, his closest European ally, with the words “Yo, Blair.” His solution to the Middle East crisis was that Syria should press Hizbollah to “stop doing this shit.”

    Link

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