A unified theory of respect
Oh, dear god. “Clinton backs Blair as UN chief.” This looks more like Clinton talking out of his backside rather than some kind of softening up exercise but was I the only one to feel a little bit sick at seeing the headline? I mean, what next? “Clinton backs Putin as Amnesty International chief”?
Now, I know the UN under Kofi Annan has its faults, not least in it’s failure under his stewardship to reform its approach to human rights and democratise the Security Council (or even take a step towards it). But is a man who bombs at the drop of a hat with or without UN sanction, the right man for the job? Or are we talking a “Nixon goes to China” moment where a man with manifestly so little respect for the UN, civil liberties and human rights can go there and shake things up?
If he got the job, would Blair bring a Respect Action Plan for the world with him? He’s already proved adept at evicting nuisance neighbours. Will a country found with nuclear ambitions late at night with no reasonable explanation DESERVE prosecution regardless of whether the UN can actually PROVE it is the result of wrongdoing?
In fact, the more you think about it, Blair’s respect agenda is actually his foreign policy brought home and applied on a local basis. The deserving/undeserving poor. Rights with responsibities. Do as I say or you’re going to catch it. Undermining innocent until proven guilty. The short sharp shock and awe. It’s all there.
Which has been terrifying enough on a regional level and looks as if it’s going to be something of a trial (metaphorical not literal, law and order fans) on a local level. Imagine the fun to be had if Blair’s vision were to bear fruit on a global stage. Will you be able to shop Sudan to The Sun? What if someone spits at Israel on her the way to the shops? Will Colombia be boarded up for three months?
Don’t go, I’m just getting warmed up…
Posted on January 14th, 2006 at 8:28 am
| See also • The black dog descends again • The Guardian: UK accused of complicity in torture • Elect Respect UPDATED |
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Filed under Blair, The coming apocalypse, UK politics |

Or maybe Clinton happy slapping in Somalia? Good post
Haha, imagine Iran getting an ASBO.
Words fail me. Maybe we should keep him as prime minister after all. So America is going to have a poodle in the UN. That should be handy when it comes to bombing Iran.
Will give Blair v Brown a whole new lease of life - best slapstick yet
He surely is a liar, and the worst candidate for the UN.
He has rhetoric in spades to bullshit that job.
I’ve had enough of the lick-spittle lackey: i’m trying to start a campaign to get him prosecuted under UK Criminal Law for conspiracy to torture, it doesn’t depend on any definition of “complicity,” it’s just a straightforward case of joining with others in an enterprise which has law breaking as the inevitable result. Contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977. I need help: I’m not arsing about here…
Loathsome leader for a loathsome outfit: seems fitting to me. And gets him and his moll out of the country. We can but dream.
try this…
go to http://www.google.co.uk (UK version)
and select “search uk sites only”
then type in “liar” and press “I’m feeling lucky”
haha
Aren’t these kinds of stories usually generated by a reporter going “would you be pleased to see tony blair as UN Chief?” and Clinton going “pardon?”
Katie: You’d have though so, wouldn’t you? You could have asked Clinton if he though Blair should run for Springfield/run for Galactic Emperor/run a mile, and Bill would have said: “That would suit me. He would be a good one.”