Santiago de Cuba, Cuba: Why doesn’t Tony Blair’s party help the Cuban opposition, inside Cuba, to help overcome Castro’s illegal regime?! Why doesn’t he help us to push a more aggressive EU policy regarding Castro’s dictatorship in Cuba?
Good question. For better or worse, Britain considers Cuba to be in the sphere of influence of the United States, and basically leaves Cuban matters to the U.S.
Erwin, Tenn.: How much money is Bush giving Blair to lie and kill for the oil Bush is stealing from Iraq?
Cheeky question. But it’s nothing like that simple. As Blair himself said in 2003: “People say that you are doing this because the Americans are telling you to do it. I keep telling them that it’s worse than that. I believe in it.”
South Plainfield, N.J.: Will Gordon Brown be forced by the continental media to take intensely anti-American positions?
No. The continental European media don’t have much influence on Britain. More important, Brown is pro-American, especially on economic policy matters, although after Iraq he will be probably be wary of joining U.S. military adventures. On military matters and in foreign policy generally, the United Kingdom is more likely to tilt toward an American position than, say, a French position. Brown will not be an exception to that rule, though his body language with Bush will certainly be different.
Columbus, Ohio: I am glad that the people in Britain are against the war and have the guts and power to do something about it. They are more democratic than the U.S. Yay, Britain!!
Most Brits were opposed to the Iraq war before it began in 2003. Blair has survived under pressure for some time. His party even managed to win the general election last year. But, yes, it has all come back to haunt him.
