Open mike lays bare the special relationship
The close personal relationship between Tony Blair and George Bush was revealed yesterday when a private conversation between the two was caught on tape.
The US president greets his British counterpart with a friendly, “Yo Blair. How are you doing?”, and the pair talk in such informal phrases that it is difficult to understand them.
Recorded at the G8 summit in St Petersburg yesterday, the conversation focuses on the continuing violence in the Middle East, where Mr Bush describes the attacks of Hizbullah against Israel last week as “s**t”.
But the president also thanks Mr Blair for a gift, apparently a Burberry sweater, which he remarks that the prime minister picked out for him personally.
On the issue of the Middle East, where Israel is today launching a seventh day of attacks on Lebanon in search of two soldiers captured by Hizbullah last Wednesday, Mr Blair makes clear he is prepared to go to the region to urge restraint.
US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is planning a trip, but the prime minister offers to smooth the way for her, noting: “If she goes out, she’s got to succeed, whereas I can go out and just talk.”
Mr Bush’s solution to the current crisis appears simple, and reflects Mr Blair’s comments at the weekend that Iran and Syria are behind the current crisis.
“The thing is, what they need to do is get Syria to get Hizbullah to stop doing this s**t and it’s over,” he says.
At the end of the exchange, the two men also refer to an unnamed man who would be “sweet” and “honey” if Lebanon turns out fine, the Israel-Palestine issue is resolved and Iraq becomes a stable state. This is thought to be President Assad of Syria.
The recording is cut off when Mr Blair realises the microphone in front of him is switched on – but not before it was broadcast around the world.
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 …[inaudible]
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 what 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 [inaudible] it’s awfully thoughtful of you.
Blair: It’s a pleasure.
Bush: I know you picked it out yourself.
Blair:Absolutely [inaudible].
Bush: What about Kofi? [inaudible] His attitude to ceasefire and everything else … happens.
Blair: Yeah, no I think the [inaudible] 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 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 to …
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 thing is what they need to do is to get Syria, to get Hizbullah to stop doing this s**t and it’s over.
Blair: Syria.
Bush: Why?
Blair: Because I think this is all part of the same thing.
Bush: Yeah.
Blair:What does he think? He thinks if Lebanon turns out fine, if we get a solution in Israel and Palestine, Iraq goes in the right way…
Bush: Yeah, yeah, he is sweet.
Blair: He is honey. 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: We are not blaming the Lebanese government.
Blair: Is this…? [Blair taps the microphone in front of him and the sound cuts out]
