Blair Bush nostalgia
Tony Blair and George Bush have just strolled out onto the lawn of the Kempinsky hotel for their last ever joint appearance.
The president talked of his regret that this would be their last meeting and his nostalgia. He also uttered at least some of the words which the prime minister has waited to hear. It is important, he said, to set an international goal for global gas emissions though he wouldn't, even when pressed, say what that goal should be or when it should come. Tony Blair says he hopes to get Bush's signature to a agreement to get a new treaty by 2009 involving all the big polluters which will commit to a substantial cut in emissions "of the order" of the EU target of a 50% cut by 2050.
It was perhaps fitting, though, that their last appearance involved a question about British kickbacks to a Saudi prince who's a friend of the president. When I asked Tony Blair whether he'd known about it, he paused and the president joked that he was glad that he didn't have to answer. That gave the PM the chance to decide that he would refuse to answer the question and simply point out again that an investigation would have wrecked a vital relationship and cost thousands of British jobs.
The PM said he wasn't nostalgic for these gigs. I am.
UPDATE: The tape of the PM and the president's words is stuck along with me on Molli - that's the name of the steam train which takes we hacks the couple of kilometres from Media-land to Leader-land at the G8.
It will have taken us six hours to get six minutes of comment.
UPDATE 2: Why, I wondered, was the G8 train called Molli. Well, I was told, many years ago a woman passenger objected to a fellow passenger smoking by throwing his cigar out of the window. Unimpressed he threw out Molli - her pet dog. Tragic, but true.
I'm 
Comments
Ah well, it's a tough job, Nick. But I guess someone's got to do it?!
Nick, can we have your analysis and opinion on the conflict between Bush's relationship with American industry and his clear wish to comply with a global emissions limit, perhaps set against the backdrop of his reduced popularity at home? and, while your laptop is switched on, how about your analysis and opinion on the degree to which a country like the UK should comply with a corrupt regime in order to secure and maintain a lucrative arms contract, thus protecting not only British jobs but an important strategic relationship?
There's no need to set out the extent to which the above would spoil a cosy steam train ride - my analysis and opinion is that we already have an answer to that.
I'm not surprised that Putin is uncomfortable with Blair/Bush.
What has Blair got right? He wanted to put his man in charge of London. He failed - Ken Livingstone proved him wrong. He wanted his man in charge in Cardiff. He failed - Rhodri Morgan proved him wrong.
As an arrogant leader Blair has supported a Conservative dunce from Texas.The sooner Bush goes too the better. Hilary Clinton will take over from him I hope.
Nick, is what we see and hear in the media about the coolness between Russia and the West just a facade? The leaders could be putting it on to fool us and make us reach for the anti-depressants again!
A pedant writes:
"takes we hacks"? Surely, Nick, you mean "takes us hacks"... (accusative case).
Tut, tut!
"Molli - that's the name of the steam train which takes we hacks the couple of kilometres from Media-land to Leader-land"
Us hacks. Where did NR go to school?
To #3 - you forget the most important of all! Blair wanted his stooge in charge in Scotland too, but I think the voters gave him a pretty clear message in response to what he thought.
I thought the Saudi investigation was halted on national security grounds rather than on jobs. Is this Blair moving the goalposts again to suit himself?
And for Bush to make a joke about it surely reveals what kind of Pres he is. We are talking about possible corruption on a huge scale and he has a laugh about it!
Why does noone at these conferences challenge them on these things. It all sounds a bit too cosy to me - and a waste of money.
"takes we hacks the couple of kilometres from Media-land to Leader-land at the G8."
It should be 'takes us hacks'. It's a basic piece of English grammar.
Take out 'hacks' and you see what makes sense.
Maybe George knew what he was doing when he interrupted Bliar's reply. It is always nice to see Bliar squirm on TV. We know he's going to lie, he wants to find a way out but he can't stop himself from showing his guilt. He's is not as media savvy as he likes to pretend. Without Alistair to feed his lines he's been far more honest than he would have liked.
There is no justification for calling off the investigation in the way he did. Screw the jobs, lets have some honesty in business for once.
do you pedants really think that Nick doesn't know it is "takes us hacks"? he was clearly just being playful. get a life.
Nick - at least you were able to understand what Blair said even if what he said wasn't understandable. His diction was always fairly good and his general command of the language above average.
With Brown it will be a case not being able to understand anything he says included what's he saying..
Good luck..
So - an investigation into the 'Arms to Saudi' affair would have 'wrecked a vital relationship and cost thousands of jobs'..
An Inconvenient Truth, in effect..?
Yes, oh-so nostalgic for a pair of warmongering wannabe dictators..
So either the grammar pedants are right, or Jimmy knows Nick better.
But why didn't he point out that 'on the order of 50%' really indicates that it won't be less than 5% but could be up to 500% (if that were logically possible). It would have been nicer had the phrase been 'on the CLOSE order of 50%'. Ho-hum - what are the chances of there being any definite figure agreed by the US anyway?
I have very few reasons to feel nostalgic thinking about the departure of Bush and Blair. It has been a horrendous time and their legacy will be the number of people left dead, mamed and disabled. The journey of hope started by President Clinton was completely derailed by Blair and Bush's excesses. They leave behind a world that is full of animosities, hatred and resentment. This will be their legacy.
He's a TV journalist. He's not supposed to know grammar.
Anyway, why is everyone here worrying about grammar when the future of the planet is at stake. You're all just as bad as NR and his stream train.
Mind you, Germany is doing well when a British journalist is able to write a piece about a country without mentioning the Nazis. Ample opportunity here:
the place was a hospital during the war.
The steam train mention does say a lot after all.
Gordon Brown does not like anything he cannot control, this is a very good indicator of how he will pursue his future policies, divide and conquer, any subdifuge, so long as he exterminates the oppostion, who, he cannot control.