http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/tonyblair/ en-us Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:31:24 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045889/posts Tony Blair has been forced to abandon a visit to Gaza today because of specific threats to his life. The tour, which was cancelled after a warning by the Israeli government, dashed the hopes of Gaza's Hamas governors of scoring a propaganda coup as Mr Blair was due to be the first senior Western politician to visit the isolated strip since the Islamist group took control. Mr Blair's convoy first delayed a planned 9am arrival, then, as it approached Israel's Erez crossing into the often-turbulent strip, turned back to Jerusalem after being told of the threat. "We received a specific... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045889/posts#comment Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:31:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037274/posts Almost two thirds of people now think Gordon Brown is a "liability," compared to only one in four people a year ago when he took over as Prime Minister. A year ago Mr Brown took over from Tony Blair but there has since been an almost total reversal in the fortunes of Labour and the Conservatives. A year ago when people were asked "who do you think will win the next election," 62 per cent said Labour and only 18 per cent said the Tories. But when asked the question now, today's poll reveals only 16 per cent think Labour... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/2200400/Gordon-Brown-is-'electoral-liabil http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037274/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:09:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036874/posts British Invasion Graduation by: Deborah Lambert, June 26, 2008 Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who will start teaching at Yale this fall, addressed the school’s 2008 graduating class on May 25th, all of which apparently horrified his former Oxford tutor, who, according to Blair, said: “I only hope for their sake you are going there to learn rather than teach.” Blair discussed the Middle East, climate change and the global economy, urging grads to become involved in causes greater than themselves. He also said that while the grads benefited from superior intellect and luck, it was very important to... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036874/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:10:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032066/posts President Bush may follow in the footsteps of his brother Jeb and convert to Catholicism, several European papers are reporting. In the wake of the president’s visit to see Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, Italian newspapers, citing Vatican sources, said Bush was open to the idea of converting to Catholicism. The Italian newspaper Il Foglio referred to such talk about Bush’s possible conversion and stated that “anything is possible, especially for someone reborn like Bush.” Noting that Tony Blair converted to Catholicism after leaving office as Britain’s prime minister last year, the paper also stated that “if anything happens,... Newsmax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032066/posts#comment Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:17:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020840/posts JERUSALEM, May 23 (UPI) -- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had a close call Thursday when two Israeli jets threatened to shoot down his plane, officials said. Blair, now a special Middle East envoy, was en route to Bethlehem from Egypt when his private jet was spotted entering Israeli airspace. When controllers could get no response from the pilot and fearing a terrorist attack, they scrambled fighter jets to intercept the aircraft, the Times of London reported Friday. The pilot identified himself after the fighter jets got in position to fire and the interceptors peeled off and returned to... United Press International http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020840/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 21:05:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014537/posts The fact that you already have several holes in your head doesn't mean you want another one. Imagine being Gordon Brown this weekend. You are still reeling from disastrous local election results and the loss of London to Boris Johnson. You trail a record 26 points behind David Cameron in the polls. Rebellion surges through your party's ranks: in Westminster, over the abolition of the 10p tax rate; in Scotland, over the proposed referendum on independence. Senior Labour figures say that there will be trouble - meaning a leadership challenge - if the party does not make serious progress by... Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014537/posts#comment Sun, 11 May 2008 21:51:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010106/posts Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and tween idol Miley Cyrus have joined Time magazine's "100 most influential people" list alongside other world leaders, celebrities and sports stars. U.S. television talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey again featured on the fifth annual list that was published online on Thursday and hits newsstands on Friday -- the only person listed every year the list has been published. All three U.S. presidential candidates -- Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain -- were included in the 2008 list alongside Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Chinese President Hu Jintao,... uk.reuters.co http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010106/posts#comment Fri, 2 May 2008 06:17:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990830/posts London - You might want to take that vacation in England just as soon as you can – before its 1,000-year run as a sovereign nation comes to an end. This winter, 27 nations of the European Union (EU) signed the Treaty of Lisbon. You may think, "Innocuous enough," as Portuguese-inspired visions of the Tagus River and chicken piri-piri swirl before your eyes. But for England (Britain, actually) the Treaty of Lisbon isn't that appetizing. That's because, if ratified, it will become the decisive act in this creation of a federal European superstate with its capital in Brussels. Britain would... The Christian Science Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1990830/posts#comment Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:57:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985979/posts Tony Blair added to his burgeoning list of international roles last night by announcing that he will join a group of experts on climate change in an attempt to reduce global carbon emissions. Tony Blair has taken on a number of roles since leaving No 10, including the position of envoy for the Middle East Quartet The former prime minister said he had the support, crucially, of China and the US in drawing up an action plan to cut emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. "This is extremely urgent," he told The Guardian. "A 50 per cent cut by... The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1985979/posts#comment Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:16:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982955/posts A novelist's revenge on Tony Blair In 'The Ghost,' a (familiar) recently retired British PM is rumoured to be a CIA agent MARK STEYN | March 6, 2008 | If ever there was a solid Tony Blair voting bloc it was surely the massed ranks of British novelists. They loathed Thatcher ("Mrs. Torture," as the pre-fatwa Salman Rushdie used to call her), yet "old Labour," with its knuckle-dragging union bosses and old-school class warfare, wasn't entirely their bag, either. Solution: Tony Blair's Third Way. He was "New Labour," just like Bill Clinton was New Democrat. It was all the rage... MaCleans.ca http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982955/posts#comment Sun, 9 Mar 2008 19:17:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982696/posts Blair to teach 'faith and globalisation' at Yale University JAMES TAPSFIELD TONY Blair is to further his interest in religion by teaching classes on "faith and globalisation" at the prestigious Yale University in an initiative linked to the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, due to be launched later this year. Academics at Yale School of Management and Divinity are working with Mr Blair to finalise details of the course. A source close to the former prime minister said he was "delighted" to be taking on the new challenge. The Connecticut university's president, Richard Levin, said staff were "honoured" Mr Blair would... http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Blair-to-teach-39faith-and.3857812.jp http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982696/posts#comment Sun, 9 Mar 2008 01:57:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982606/posts Tony Blair has found himself another new role as a teacher of faith classes at the prestigious US university Yale. Former PM to become a teacher The former Prime Minister, who converted to Roman Catholicism in December, will pass on his wisdom about "faith and globalisation".A statement from the university said: "Yale University is pleased to announce the appointment of Prime Minister Tony Blair as the Howland Distinguished Fellow for the next academic year."Mr Blair will lead a seminar at Yale and participate in a number of events around the campus."Academics at Yale School of Management and Divinity are working with... Sky News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982606/posts#comment Sat, 8 Mar 2008 21:28:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982199/posts BOSTON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will teach at Yale University in the next academic year starting in September, leading a course on "faith and globalization," the Ivy League school said on Friday. Yale, the alma mater of U.S. President George W. Bush, said Blair had been appointed Howland Distinguished Fellow, a post that dates to 1915 and which has been occupied by such notable individuals as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and journalist Sir Alistair Cooke. Blair, a part-time international envoy for Palestinian economic development since he stepped down last year, will also participate in... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982199/posts#comment Fri, 7 Mar 2008 23:34:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975660/posts <p>1. Russians Suspected in Shooting of Kremlin Critic Near D.C.</p> <p>One year ago, Kremlin critic Paul Joyal was gunned down in the driveway of his suburban Maryland home. The case remains unsolved — but some see the hand of Russia in the shooting.</p> Canada Free Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1975660/posts#comment Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:47:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1970698/posts CNN has fired producer Chez Pazienza after the network brass realized he had been blogging at his own left-wing site and several others over a period of years: In a phone interview this morning, Mr. Pazienza, 38, said he joined CNN as a senior producer in January 2004 and has consistently received positive performance evaluations of his work. He spent his first year at CNN at the network’s headquarters in Atlanta, then moved to New York to work on “CNN Daybreak,” which has since been canceled, then “American Morning,” which is shown Monday through Friday, from 6 to 9 a.m.... NewsBusters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1970698/posts#comment Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:52:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956571/posts Blair accused of 'stabbing Hillary Clinton in the back' after supporting RepublicansLast updated at 00:56am on 20th January 2008  Former allies: Bill Clinton and Tony Blair   Tony Blair was accused of betrayal last night as he waded into the American Presidential campaign to support George Bush's Republican world view. As the former PM recommended Mr Bush's policies to 400 millionaire bankers in Las Vegas, former ally Bill Clinton was campaigning in Nevada for his wife Hillary, who hopes to be the Democratic candidate for the White House and is an arch Bush critic. In a move liable to... The Daily Mail (U.K.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1956571/posts#comment Sun, 20 Jan 2008 06:51:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951167/posts NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former British prime minister Tony Blair is expected on Thursday to join U.S. bank JPMorgan Chase & Co Inc as a senior adviser, according to a person familiar with the situation. JPMorgan declined to comment. The Financial Times in London first reported the move on its Web site, saying it would be the first of a series positions Blair expects to take in the private sector. Blair, a key ally of U.S. President George W. Bush, was replaced last year by Gordon Brown as prime minister amid growing discontent over Great Britain's policy in Iraq. Details... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951167/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:04:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943789/posts The decision by Tony Blair to convert to Catholicism has sparked a row over his government's policies during his term in office as prime minister of the UK. Mr Blair was welcomed into the Roman Catholic church on Friday night by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor -- leader of the Roman Catholics in England and Wales. But his conversion was criticised by commentators who said some of his views while in office were at odds with church teachings. And yesterday, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) reacted with surprise to the news of Mr Blair's... Independent http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943789/posts#comment Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:48:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1944163/posts Tony Blair's conversion to Catholicism does not come as a surprise to anyone but I would have liked him to turn to Islam instead. Blair has claimed on many occasions that he has read the Quran and has said he found its teachings "progressive". He is right that the Quran is progressive and as a revealed book of God, it is the latest testament. Why would Blair turn to the older versions of God's testament when there is the Quran? His conversion sounds rather regressive to me. Different denominational churches within Christianity are part of the same house. If the... Guardian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1944163/posts#comment Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:55:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1943200/posts LONDON -- Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has converted to Catholicism, a long-rumored move, British media reported Saturday. Blair converted during a Mass held on Friday night at a chapel in London, Sky News, the British Broadcasting Corp. and the British news agency Press Association reported, quoting an unidentified spokesman. There had long been rumors that Blair, a member of the Church of England who stepped down as prime minister earlier this year, planned to convert. Blair's wife, Cherie, is Roman Catholic, the couple's children have attended Catholic schools and Blair had habitually attended Catholic rather than Anglican services. newsmax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1943200/posts#comment Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:29:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943167/posts Tony Blair joins Catholic faith Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has converted to the Catholic faith. His wife Cherie is a Catholic and there had been speculation that he would convert to Catholicism from his Anglican faith after leaving office. Mr Blair's official spokesman confirmed he had converted on Friday night and said it was a private matter. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor said he was "very glad" to welcome Mr Blair, who is now a Middle East peace envoy, into the Catholic Church. 'Nutter' fear One of Mr Blair's final official trips while prime minister was a visit to the Vatican... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1943167/posts#comment Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:07:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930456/posts "TONY BLAIR has admitted that his Christianity played a “hugely important” role during his premiership but he was forced to play down his religious conviction for fear of being seen by the public as “a nutter”. In his most frank television interview about his religious beliefs, Blair confesses he would have found it difficult to do the job of prime minister had he not been able to draw on his faith." "In The Blair Years, the former prime minister, who is expected to convert to Roman Catholicism soon, compares the differing attitude to religion in British politics with that in... UK Sunday Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930456/posts#comment Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:31:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1930374/posts Tony Blair was on the brink of announcing his conversion to Catholicism on a visit to the Pope until a last-ditch intervention by Britain's Roman Catholic leader.   Tony Blair at an audience with Pope Benedict XVI The former Prime Minister was planning to make the historic statement on a trip to the Vatican, but was persuaded not to at the 11th hour.Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, advised Mr Blair that it would be unwise and inappropriate to use such a high-profile occasion for such an important private event, particularly coming just days before he was due to... Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1930374/posts#comment Sun, 25 Nov 2007 23:19:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930127/posts Tony blair has sparked controversy by claiming that people who speak about their religious faith can be viewed by society as "nutters". The former prime minister's comments came as he admitted for the first time that his faith was "hugely important" in influencing his decisions during his decade in power at Number 10, including going to war with Iraq in 2003. Mr Blair complained that he had been unable to follow the example of US politicians, such as President George W. Bush, in being open about his faith because people in Britain regarded religion with suspicion. "It's difficult if you... Daily Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1930127/posts#comment Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:28:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923288/posts Tony Blair will convert to Roman Catholicism within weeks when he is received into the church by the Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, according to the Catholic magazine the Tablet.There has been speculation for months that the former prime minister would be received into the church following his resignation from office. A report by the magazine's editor, Catherine Pepinster, says the ceremony will take place during a private mass in the cardinal's official residence behind Westminster Cathedral in Victoria, London.Mr Blair, now a Middle East peace envoy, was baptised as an Anglican but has been known to be interested... Guardian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923288/posts#comment Fri, 9 Nov 2007 13:32:04 GMT