Blair extends his comments to Islam, in which he argues there is a strain of violence. The West can respond to it, "but it can only be actually eliminated by those within Islam." Regarding the phrase "war on terror," "people distrusted this, partly for its directness, partly because it seemed too limited. ... Yet if what we are fighting is not a war, what is it?" Hear, hear, Tony.
Finally, my new best friend -- at least among pols -- adds, "I find the insouciance towards the decline of the transatlantic relationship, on both sides of the ocean, a little shocking." I guess he means insouciance among all the Western powers for concerted action. OK, I shall go along with this, but if it means that we who act resolutely have to dally with the non-English-speaking peoples, I shall do so reluctantly. The fact is that the English-speaking peoples take action. When we give a veto to the French or the Germans or the Russians, there is always the danger that they will put profits for their industries and for their corrupt politicians before strategic considerations. We saw this in the Oil-for-Food scam, and we shall be hearing more in the months ahead.
For now, let us give Tony Blair a careful hearing. He risked a great deal for his beliefs and deserves to be taken seriously. I have yet to see a politician on either side of the Atlantic make such a compelling case. Historian Paul Johnson got me a last-minute appointment to meet Blair at No. 10 while on a quick trip to London years ago. I passed on it, as my flight was booked. Ever since, I have been kicking myself. Talk about penny-wise, pound-foolish.
R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. is the founder and editor-in-chief of The American Spectator and an adjunct scholar at the Hudson Institute. His new book is "After the Hangover: The Conservatives' Road to Recovery." To find out more about R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr. and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
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