| The British are a fickle lot when it comes to their prime ministers. Look what happened to Winston Churchill, the hero of WWII. Clement Atlee defeated Churchill in 1945. Churchill remained in British politics until 1955 and even became PM again, but he wasn't loved. His popularity soared after his death.
I'm not saying that Blair will be another Churchill, although I'm sure he comforts himself at the prospect. The Iraq War is no WWII. And England's domestic situation is different. I don't think history or the British people will treat Blair with the same kindness that it has extended to Churchill.
Blair's once stellar reputation in America has also taken a hit, although I suspect that Americans like Tony more than Britons do. After all, Tony can string together beautiful English sentences. George Jr can barely read "My Pet Goat." |