Bush-Blair team unshakeable as ever

by BBC (reposted)

Sat, Jul 29, 2006 9:24AM

Anyone hoping that George W Bush's good friend Tony Blair would use his pull with the president to get the United States to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon will have been disappointed by their joint appearance at the White House on Friday.

Both leaders were offered the chance to call for the fighting to end without precondition, and both batted it away in favour of what they would call the bigger picture.

This is a "chance for broader change in the region", Mr Bush said.

The world needed "a framework that allows us to stabilise the situation for the medium and longer-term," Mr Blair chimed in.

They called for a UN-backed force to intervene in southern Lebanon, but without some stability on the ground - and with no indication whatsoever of what countries might supply troops - it would be rash to think blue helmets will arrive to put a lid on the violence any time soon.

Singing in harmony

The two men had clearly spent their private meeting making sure they would sing from the same hymn sheet in front of the cameras.

No dispute on how to move forward in the Middle East.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5225436.stm

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