Editorial
Tony Blair's departure
From symbol of change to a diminished leader
Tony Blair walks away from power convinced that he has ensured Britain's place in the world. There could be some truth in that conviction, in the sense that through undiluted cooperation with the United States, first under Bill Clinton and then George W. Bush, Blair inaugurated a new phase in what has always been known as London's special relationship with Washington. At another level, the Blair period has been one of forging greater links with Europe and playing a major role in a redefinition of politics through the European Union. Elsewhere, it is in Africa where the departing British leader will be remembered for his efforts toward reducing poverty and promoting good government in the continent. Importantly, Blair leaves office before the end of his term, which ought to serve as a guideline for those who believe in democracy.And yet, for all the enthusiasm with which he came to power in 1997 and the intensity with which he tried to project his leadership, it is Iraq that has clearly marred Tony Blair's claim on history. In the early days in office, it was messianic zeal that convinced him he could be a figure of Churchillian proportions. And what better way to reach such heights than through projecting himself as an able war leader? Only, in this case, the war was based not on a moral compulsion to make the world a better place for everyone but on a falsehood related to non-existent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The theory of pre-emptive strike put into practice negated the principles of international law and civility. The unequivocal support Blair gave President Bush despite the unmasking of the lie perpetrated by the two men led to a natural result --- a swift erosion of support for the British leader. On his watch, British young men have died unnecessarily in a conflict that need not have been invented in early 2003. In the end, it was Iraq which left Tony Blair a diminished leader. In 1994, when he took charge of the Labour Party, he was a young symbol of hope. In 1997, as a new prime minister, he was emblematic of great expectations. Now he looks set to walk away into the twilight little mourned. The mantle of leadership will soon pass into the hands of the hard-driving Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. The new man does not have Blair's charisma, but as czar of the British economy for a decade, he has demonstrated purposeful leadership. We therefore welcome Brown, whom Blair has already endorsed as his successor, as Britain's next leader.
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