Tony Blair has no bollocks when it comes to foreign policy. He appears to have no wish to go where Washington fails to lead. Hence Britain's [rather miserable] reputation suffered yet further when he failed to condemn Israel's foolish assault on Lebanon, and he has been nicely pre-empted this week by both the rather deplorable Prescott and heir-in-anticipation Brown. Today, however, reports have surfaced that, even if he has no backbone, he knows when it's time to chime in.
Interestingly enough, the Iraqi government has chimed in and said it may review relations with any country condemning the execution. Proof that the Iraqi government has no grasp of realpolitik. One can only hope they cut relations with the UK.
Admittedly Brown does seem to be getting off to a good start. Everyone knows Blair's days are numbered, as he has but six months or so to go. And so Brown has pre-empted Cameron and started to formulate some idea of what his premiership may look like: somewhat ethereal, but more concrete that the sound-bites of Cameron. He does lose points for invoking the spectre of 'patriotism' however.
The problem is, of course, as Blair leaves in the shadow of Iraq, corruption and general incompetence, Brown is left tarnished by his 10 years of association and lack of experience in foreign policy. Can he re-establish Labour as a force worth voting for, especially given his lack of charisma? Perhaps a moot point, given the increasing lack of difference between the major parties.
