Tony Blair resigns!

I suppose just another U.S. puppy will take his place.

it's true.

format_quote Originally Posted by amani

no the world wont be a better place since hes going, hes one of many.

yeh totally agree ^ And Allaah knows best.

Blair will stand down on 27 June

if people had such power to control the government, why thousdands probably milions of people marched on street against the war in iraq, against the war in vietnam, but they couldn't do anything...the idea that "people controll the goverment" is just an old story that doesn't exist anymore, yeah it's true that you elect the person, but in the other hand you can't control the person what he does, could you stop bush from war in iraq? or the war in vietnam? no...where is the power of the people? these leader do whatever the hell they want , nobody can stop them. so please stop talking about the idea of democracy cuz it doesn't exist anymore.

As UK Prime Minister Tony Blair reveals his plans to stand down as Labour leader and prime minister, BBC correspondents around the world assess his foreign affairs legacy.


MIDDLE EAST: JEREMY BOWEN

In the Middle East, even more than at home in Britain, Tony Blair will forever be linked with the war in Iraq and the alliance he made with George W Bush.

In retirement, Mr Blair will have a warm welcome in the palaces of the leaders of Western allies like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

But the vast majority of Arabs to whom I have spoken since Iraq was invaded in 2003, from wealthy businessmen to the poor filing into the mosques, believe the actions of Messrs Blair and Bush have been disastrous. Anti-Western feeling across the Middle East is stronger than it has ever been in modern times.

Israel is the only country in the Middle East where both the leadership and the people appreciate Mr Blair. Many Israelis agree with his view that there is a titanic struggle in the world going on between democracy and extremism, good and evil.

They like the way he used Britain's position in the UN Security Council to delay a ceasefire to buy more time for them to attack Hezbollah during last summer's Lebanon war.

UNITED STATES: MATT FREI

Their initial bond was forged in the dust of 9/11, when the president singled out the prime minister as a special friend. Then came Afghanistan and, of course, Iraq, in which Mr Blair proved himself by far the most willing member of the coalition of the willing.

In fact the British ambassador to Washington once told me that "if he wanted to, the prime minister could veto this war". But he didn't and the war went ahead.

Britain played Athens to America's Rome. Mr Blair was cherished in Washington as a more polished and articulate version of Mr Bush. Even Democrats loved him, remembering that he had once also been a close friend to Mr Clinton, whose "third way" politics he emulated.

But ultimately it was their alliance on Iraq, and the failures of the war, that entrapped them in the trenches of unpopularity - and that in years to come will define their legacy.

In the meantime, Mr Blair can be sure to enjoy a far more loving reception in the US than at home, as well as the inevitable treasure-trove of lecture tours.

IRAQ: ANDREW NORTH

"We welcome Blair leaving," says Dr Amar Wajih, an MP with the Iraqi Islamic Party, the largest Sunni faction in parliament.

"He is one of the key figures behind this unjust war, which has brought disaster and catastrophe."

He had expected Mr Blair and the British to do better and make up for US mistakes. "We hope whoever replaces Blair will be better." He had not heard of Gordon Brown.

On the streets of Baghdad, though, most people seemed indifferent to Mr Blair's impending departure. The day-to-day struggles of surviving amid the chaos and violence that grip the city four years on from the US and British invasion are uppermost in people's minds.

"For three days I haven't been able to fill my car with petrol," said one man angrily, as he drove off to find another petrol station.

"I can't find any cooking gas either. These are the important things. And you ask me what I think about Tony Blair leaving."

RUSSIA: JAMES RODGERS


As Mr Blair leaves office, British-Russian relations are at a post-Cold War low. While there are successful business ties, political and diplomatic relations have suffered.

The murder in London of the former Russian secret service policeman Alexander Litvinenko is the main, recent, reason for growing mistrust. Any attempt to apportion blame has led to outraged denial.

Then there is Boris Berezovsky. Russia wants the extradition of the tycoon and former Kremlin insider. His claim last month that he was planning the overthrow of President Putin provoked fury here in Moscow. He had been granted political asylum in Britain. There seems little prospect he'll have to return to Russia.

AFRICA: PETER BILES

"What Blair did not have was willing partners in other G8 countries. In particular, the Bush administration was a major spoiler and one of Blair's failings was his inability to exploit the so-called special relationship that exists between the UK and the US."

"With the exception of the 18 countries that received debt forgiveness promises, 14 of them African states, it's really been a disappointing show in terms of translating promises into commitments".

Finally bliar resigns, its about time that criminal left office.