An Unguarded Moment – Israel and Hezbollah
July 24th, 2006 by Stephen
Over the weekend there has been some discussion on this blog about a post I made last week, regarding a conversation overheard between George Bush and Tony Blair at the G8. It is frightening how little Bush seems to understand the Middle East conflict, based on this remark.
Take a stroll over to Juan Cole’s excellent “Informed Comment” blog, and you will see he makes the same point, but devotes rather more than a paragraph to it. Cole’s summary:
It is a little window into the superficial, one-sided mind of the man, who has for six years been way out of his depth.
I come away from it shaken and trembling.
And that is the problem. Bush seems like a nice enough guy (if you can excuse all the killing he has authorised!) but he clearly does not have a clue. Look at the video of his briefing prior to hurricane Katrina – does he ask any questions? No. Does he make any comment that indicates he has a plan beyond trusting in his civil service? No.
Likewise this conversation with Blair. He actually seems to think that Hezbollah can be forced to stop their sh** by order of Damascus, and that this will bring the Middle East crisis to an end. Notice that Tony Blair just goes kind of quiet as Bush says this. Obviously he does not want to contradict the man – but my reading of the body language is that he does not agree.
Incidentally, I think there are some errors in Cole’s transcription. This below is the BBC transcription:
Bush: Yo, Blair. How are you doing?
Blair: I’m just…Bush: You’re leaving?
Blair: No, no, no not yet. On this trade thingy…[indistinct]
Bush: Yeah, I told that to the man.
Blair: Are you planning to say that here or not?
Bush: If you want me to.
Blair: Well, it’s just that if the discussion arises…
Bush: I just want some movement.
Blair: Yeah.
Bush: Yesterday we didn’t see much movement..
Blair: No, no, it may be that it’s not, it may be that it’s impossible.
Bush: I am prepared to say it.
Blair: But it’s just I think that we need to be an opposition…
Bush: Who is introducing the trade?
Blair: Angela [Merkel, the German Chancellor]
Bush: Tell her to call ‘em.
Blair: Yes
Bush: Tell her to put him on, them on the spot. Thanks for the sweater – it’s awfully thoughtful of you.
Blair: It’s a pleasure.
Bush: I know you picked it out yourself.
Blair: Oh absolutely – in fact I knitted it!!!
(laughter)
Bush: What about Kofi? [Annan] – he seems all right. I don’t like his ceasefire plan. His attitude is basically ceasefire and everything sorts out…. But I think…
Blair: Yeah, no I think the [indistinct] is really difficult. We can’t stop this unless you get this international business agreed.
Bush: Yeah.
Blair: I don’t know what you guys have talked about, but as I say I am perfectly happy to try and see what the lie of the land is, but you need that done quickly because otherwise it will spiral.
Bush: I think Condi [US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice] is going to go pretty soon.
Blair: But that’s, that’s, that’s all that matters. But if you… you see it will take some time to get that together.
Bush: Yeah, yeah.
Blair: But at least it gives people…
Bush: It’s a process, I agree. I told her your offer too [the BBC transcription has this as "to ...", but I think they are in error here. I think Bush is just saying "I told her your offer as well"]
Blair: Well… it’s only if I mean… you know. If she’s got a…, or if she needs the ground prepared as it were… Because obviously if she goes out she’s got to succeed, if it were, whereas I can go out and just talk.
Bush: You see the irony is what they need to do is get Syria, to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it’s all over…
Blair: [indistinct]
Bush: [indistinct]
Blair: Dunno… Syria….
Bush: Why?
Blair: Because I think this is all part of the same thing…
Bush: (with mouth full of bread) Yeah
Blair: Look – what does he think? He thinks if Lebanon turns out fine. If you get a solution in Israel and Palestine, Iraq goes in the right way
Bush: Yeah, yeah, he is struggling.
Blair: He’s had it. And that’s what the whole thing is about. It’s the same with Iraq.
Bush: I felt like telling Kofi to call, to get on the phone to Assad and make something happen.
Blair: Yeah
Bush: [indistinct]
Blair: [indistinct]
Bush: We are not blaming the Lebanese government.
Blair: Is this…? [Blair taps the microphone in front of him and the sound is cut.]
You can listen to the interview yourself if you download the BBC Newsnight podcast or visit the BBC Newsnight website
