International diplomacy has gone a little bit schoolroom, writes Bonnie Malkin. The former US president, Jimmy Carter, has called Tony Blair a copycat. Again.
Speaking on the BBC's Newsnight programme, Carter said Britain had shamelessly borrowed from US foreign policy during the war between Israel and Hizbullah and that Blair bowed too readily to George Bush's will, when it came to the US-led invasion of Iraq.
I have been really disappointed in the apparent subservience of the British government's policies related to many of the serious mistakes that have been originated in Washington.
This time no matter what kind of radical or ill-advised policy is proposed from the White House it seems to me that almost automatically the government of Great Britain would adopt the same policy.
While no one has uttered the words 'teacher's pet' just yet, Carter certainly has his sympathisers. The Brad Blog doesn't mince its words, gleefully reporting: "Jimmy Carter Wishes Tony Blair Would Grow A Spine, or some cojones!"
Across the pond, Gary1967 on LiveJournal says the former president is preaching to the converted. But not everyone agrees that Carter has got it right.
The blogger Half-Truths and Gorilla Dust rushes to Tony's defence.
Why do people keep confusing agreement on the issues as subservience? If anything, watching many of Blair's answers on prime minister's questions over the years shows that he is more passionate and eloquent on the subject of democracy in the Middle East than even Bush.
So there.
