The two crucial mistakes that cost Straw his job

[deminks]

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1768928,00.html?gusrc=rss

Jack Straw made two crucial mistakes in his dealings with Tony Blair: one involved the prime minister's relationship with Gordon Brown and the other Iran. Mr Straw has said repeatedly that it is "inconceivable" that there will be a military strike on Iran and last month dismissed as "nuts" a report that George Bush was keeping on the table the option of using tactical nuclear weapons against Tehran's nuclear plants.

But Mr Blair, who sees Iran as the world's biggest threat, does not agree with his former foreign secretary. The prime minister argues that, at the very least, nothing should be ruled out in order to keep Iran guessing. Downing Street phoned the Foreign Office several times to suggest Mr Straw stop going on the BBC Today programme and ruling it out so categorically.

His fate was sealed when the White House called Mr Blair and asked why the foreign secretary kept saying these things. In any case, Mr Straw had boxed himself in on Iran to the extent that he would have had to resign if a military strike became a reality.

Mr Blair was also irritated by what he saw as Mr Straw's opportunism in shifting his loyalty towards Mr Brown with unseemly haste in expectation that he would be the next prime minister.

(end snip)

Or was it because Straw got too close to Condi?

[Telly Savalas]

1. So now that Jack Straw is no longer the British foreign minister...

who gets the job? Tennessee Jed or Cosmic Charlie?

[Monk06]

3. Don't be surprised if Straw doesn't go gunning for Blairs job.....

Straw is playing to the Labour base and he knows it.
Plus he can cut into recent Tory gains in local elections
by taking the moral high ground and putting Blair's foreign
policy behind him.

During the next leadership convention Staw will be kicking
Blair in the balls by calling Blair a Bushbot.

[Kutjara]

2. The quote that worries me is:

"Mr Straw had boxed himself in on Iran to the extent that he would have had to resign if a military strike became a reality." And what did he do today? Riiight.

Well, its been nice knowing you all. See you in the afterlife.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. I have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach -- that Iran will be nuked

Blair will do whatever bush wants.

What hold does bush have on Blair???

This is another train wreck about to happen and we can't do anything about it. WE can see it -- we can write letters to politicians -- and to letters to the editors -- sign petitions -- and any person with the slightest bit of sanity is getting sacked.

[Kutjara]

5. Its the good ol' special relationship

Because a majority of Britons are averse to tighter political integration with Europe, the country is unlikely to benefit fully from EU membership for some time. It therefore relies on the 'special relationship' with the US to give it the political and economic clout it needs to continue to play in the big leagues of international affairs. Without either Europe or the US, Britain would be a small fish surrounded by large and growing predators.

As befits Britain's role as a vassal state, Blair puckers up whenever Bush looks like he might be in the mood to bend over. What ensues is typically the most egregious asskissing in the long and distinguished history of the art.

In addition, Blair is one of those pathetic children of the 70's for whom everthing American is cool. His economic and social policies since 1997 have been aimed at turning the UK into a mini-me US. Naturally, therefore, when the Big Kahuna says 'frog!', our Tony jumps through the ceiling.

Finally, Blair, like Bush, has an eye on his legacy. He wants to be remembered as another Churchill, and realises that domestically-focused leaders are usually forgotten, while 'statesmen' get the big statues.

So, basically, Blair is suffering from a combination of envy, insecurity and overambition. Just the sort of qualities you want in a leader.

[ladjf]

7. Bush and Blair work for the same companies.

[necso]

6. Beg, tony, beg... Roll over... Play dead.

Your master speaks.