rational geekery

What is Mr. Blair doing in the Middle East?

With Iraq on the precipice of total collapse (how long before we have to concede that much of the country represents a failed state?), does Tony Blair really think he has any chance, whatsoever, of having a positive impact in the Middle East on this final sojourn to the region?

And what exactly, is Blair hoping to achieve by asking the ‘moderate’ Middle Eastern countries to unite against Iran? Is he trying to create an atmosphere for a regional nuclear arms race? The Saudis and Egyptians are already deeply concerned about a nuclearised Shia state to their east, all Blair is doing is pouring petrol on these flames. Iran now sees its chance, with an allied Shia-led Iraq, to seize power in the Islamic World and become the region’s champion. Bush and Blair have created a political vacuum that the Iranians dream of filling, much to the chagrin of our allies in Islamabad, Jordan, Riyadh, and Cairo.

Blair may once have dreamed about being the saviour of the Middle East (and let’s be honest, such delusions of grandeur do seem entirely in character), but surely even this most foolish Prime Minister, must accept that his policies have only helped invigorate this poisonous maelstrom of hatred and violence. Blair is becoming a joke. Blinded by a vanquished ideology and consumed by religion, Blair is now so maligned in the Mid East; the Iraqi Vice-President can confidently describe him as “brain-washed” by President Bush. Tariq Ali sums up Blair’s standing in the Guardian today, “His desperate attempts to play the statesman have made him a laughing stock in friendly Arab capitals and Baghdad's Green Zone.”

Blair should come home and stop playing the diplomatic messiah he never was. It’s over Tony; your time is up.