"While most are aware by now that President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will confer Sunday in the Azores, it seems just as many do not realize the weight of this meeting. This truly is a “war council”. A “little birdy” informed me days ago of this gathering, long before it was mentioned publicly. I was told that there would be a summit of the “Big 3” at a “neutral site”, meaning not in the US, GB, or Spain, but likely on an island in the Atlantic belonging to a friendly ally. While this meeting is described as being “hastily arranged”, it has actually been in the planning for some time. Once it became clear that the US and the “willing coalition” would be the liberating force it was decided that the “Big 3” should meet in person for several reasons.
While, the situation is still fluid here is some background and likely summit scenario. It’s being reported that “topping the agenda will be strategies for salvaging the trio's troubled war resolution at the United Nations.” Actually, the UN aspect is for all intents and purposes DEAD. As most are aware, it was Blair, and to a lesser extent, Aznar, that wanted another UN resolution so desperately. Bush agreed in order to assist his friends, both foreign (UK, Spain) and domestic (doves like Powell). To show just how far he was willing to go for them, Bush made his press conference statement that there would be a UN vote, period. The problem was that Blair had underestimated the French resolve to undermine the “coalition of the willing”. It finally became apparent to him that Chirac would oppose ANY reasonable resolution. This has angered Blair to no end, and he believes that Chirac is trying to end his political career in order to become the “the voice” of the EU and elevate France’s stature. Chirac believes he has Blair trapped, thinking Tony can’t or won’t go to war without another UN resolution. On the other hand, Chirac simply will not agree to any reasonable resolution, while trying to appear that they are open to new proposals. They are not, so he believes he has Blair in a box.
The one thing worse for Blair than going to war without another UN resolution would be going to war after a UN resolution failed to pass, thus the same man who urged Bush to back another resolution is now urging him to abandon his call for a vote. Blair, however, feels he still needs to bring some “international legitimacy” to going to war. A comment made by Bush’s press secretary a few days ago was passed over by the press, but the words were loaded. Ari said “an international coalition WILL disarm Iraq. It may not be the UN, but there will be an international coalition that acts.” What was missed there by the press is that those are more than mere words. Expect those words to become official policy at the Sunday meeting. Again, barring some dramatic developments, this coalition will be made official. It will likely be given a name and have the signatures of the “Big 3” and may be co-signed by several other countries either at the same time, or in the next few days/weeks. This is all to give this alliance as much “legitimacy” as possible, mostly for Blair’s sake. Now, at the same time this new organization is being given legitimacy, it is equally as important for them to discredit the UN. The latter will be given as the reason why another resolution will not be ultimately pursued in the UN. This is an end-around Chirac and his little game, and will be a mighty blow to the UN, at least to the Security Council.
GIT THE US OUTTA THE UN...GIT THE UN OUTTA THE US!!!!
FReegards...MUD