The newly "crowned" British PM Gordon Brown visited with President Bush Sunday and Monday at Camp David in Maryland. All eyes were on the personal dynamics of the two. Would the dour Scot get along with the rambunctious Texan (or whatever he is). Not surprisingly they did not appear to share toothpaste brands or other details of the daily toilette. The joint statement covered platitudes about shared values and challenges.
But there was some obvious distancing from Bush in Brown's comments that (terrorism) "it is a crime, and a crime against humanity". From the Guardian quoting Brown, "In carefully chosen words Mr Brown stressed Britain "had moved from 'combat' to 'overwatch' [aiding Iraqi forces] in three of the four provinces for which we the British have responsibility. We intend to move to Overwatch in the fourth province and that decision will be made on the military advice of commanders on the ground. Whatever happens, we will make a full statement to parliament when it returns.""
An interesting take on Brown's feelings comes from Ewan MaxAskill, Washington Bureau Chief of the Guardian when he writes, "Brown signalled Britain's intention to begin, later this year, withdrawing from Iraq the remaining 5,500 troops. He said that he would tell parliament first: the Commons is not due to return until October. That would be after the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, reports to Washington in the middle of September on whether there has been any progress in Iraq. It is likely he will and that would provide the cover for a British withdrawal to begin." So everyone is looking at Petraeus' report for justification for the things they want to do anyway. The British to leave because of the progress and for Bush another excuse to stay and continue the insanity.
Of course, intransigence regarding the war can extend to the some few British as well. On last night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart interviewed the prince of spin, Alistair Campbell. Cambell was a close advisor to former PM Tony Blair who was drummed out of government because of his involvement in the misleading information the British government used to justify the war iin Iraq. He is still unapologetic in his support for the war. Stewart made him look like an ass.
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