I am so committed to getting my book finished I really don’t have time or energy to blog at the moment, and realise it has been very desultory the last few weeks. I am well and happy, it is just that writing a properly researched history is incredibly intensive. I realise there is much of great interest happening in the world, but I must sometimes cut myself off from it.
This is why I don’t ask for donations for the blog…
Assuming Mr Tony, international sleazepuppet, is or has been sniffing round the Dalmatian coast, whether or not this might be connected with some very rich people with big boats, this article may be instructive:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/09/adriatic-coast-oil-gas-exploration-opposition-cherie-blair-summit
Meanwhile, Booth’s role is coming under scrutiny. In a statement issued to the Guardian on Friday, [the Clean Adriatic Sea Alliance] said it could not “comment on what relevance the former prime minister’s wife’s role as an advocate and lobbyist might mean to the Adriatic”.
But it added: “We suspect, based upon her previous actions, it won’t be in the common interest of the population, the natural heritage, fisheries or tourism industries.”
Peripheral points…Cherie hasn’t been reported on this trip: Tony has been snapped once after leaving Santorini, and was then accompanied only by minders (if this was not library stock: the shirt has made previous appearances). The Brown Beach House Hotel only opened three weeks ago: it doesn’t look like Tony’s normal style, being less luxury than boutique and rather restrained. It’s owned (again contrary to Croatian media reports) by Brown Hotels of Tel Aviv, which is having no difficulty in finding the capital to expand rapidly and internationally. The owner of the group, a Leon Avigad, admits to an interest in Shabak, the Israeli security agency.
Given that both Blairs mix business and pleasure promiscuously, there is certainly room for speculation as to the purpose of this trip.
Another sighting of our hero tonight:
https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=sq&u=http://www.m.lapsi.al/lajme/2016/08/03/tony-blair-zbret-me-helikopter-n%25C3%25AB-himar%25C3%25AB-rama-e-pret-n%25C3%25AB-vil%25C3%25ABn-qeveritare&prev=search
A meeting with Eddie Rama in Albania, whose generous payment to Cherie’s Omnia Strategy for, essentially, doing sod-all, was detailed here earlier this year. Tony is still ‘advising’ the Albanian government, as far as is known, where ‘to advise’ is understood to mean ‘to use one’s political contacts to help Albania into the EU’. This is claimed to be at no cost to the (Albanian) government, but in performing a similar role in Serbia, it is strongly suggested that the cost is borne by Abu Dhabi interests. As in Santorini, and as in Ciovo, the implication is that Tony will be holidaying in the country, but that helicopter drop-off suggests otherwise. Did he transfer direct from Ciovo? Via somewhere else – he can’t have been happy in that hotel. It’s tastefully furnished – or even from the helipad on the deck of the Pelorus, still moored off Olipa with its four companions?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BASGS_EK4sS/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3405836/Cherie-Blair-s-law-firm-gets-493-000-Albania-husband-Tony-adviser-legal-dispute-British-scanning-company.html
Rather like Rwanda under Paul Kagame, also advised and indeed promoted by Blair, there are two stories on corruption in Albania. One states that Edie Rama’s election ushered in a clampdown on organised crime and corruption. This is the version the West, and especially the EU, is encouraged to believe. The other narrative is exclusively for internal consumption: it’s the same old same old with a smiley face:
http://balkanblog.org/2016/03/26/foreign-policy-albanians-idiot-gangster-system-with-edi-rama-and-inexperienced-apprentices-and-corrupt-loyalists/
Prime Blair territory, then. (But unlike Kagame, unless Rama’s paintings are spectacularly bad, he isn’t in the frame for crimes against humanity.)
Great news from the Iraq families’ crowdfunding appeal. It’s hit its target, and evaluation of the civil case against Blair can begin. The best of luck!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3722711/Iraq-families-hit-150-000-target-sue-Blair-just-two-weeks-5-000-members-public-dip-pockets.html
In other news, Mediamass reports a sighting of Blair at home alone, walking down his drive the day before yesterday in – that telling detail adding authenticity – in a cute sweater. Have Tony and Cherie split up? it asks, tongue mostly in cheek. Unfortunately this is a recycled story from earlier in the year, originated by someone, presumably in North America, who doesn’t know that (a) we don’t generally have mail boxes at the ends of our drives, and (b) Mr. Tony’s mail is personally delivered by HM the Queen and woe betide her if any envelopes are creased. The answer to the original question is almost certainly no. Cherie does not willingly give away cash assets.
Our Belief that Tony was in the Balkans at the reported time remains unshaken.
http://www.gazetaexpress.com/lajme-nga-shqiperia/momentet-e-mberritjes-se-tony-blair-ne-himare-foto-235624/
Blair, arriving yesterday, on a football field in southern Albania. Carrying his own suitcases, and no sign of Cherie. “Have Tony and Cherie split up?” That cosy family holiday concept seems to have vanished….and that doesn’t look like a private helicopter (as reported elsewhere) at all.
Actually, this is business. Rama needs some influence, fast.
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sq&u=http://boldnews.al/2016/08/03/rama-ne-veshtiresi-tonny-blair-mberrin-helikopter-ne-dhermi/&prev=search
reliable sources close to the prime minister for Boldnews.al suggest that former British Prime Minister Tonny Blair is expected to increase its presence in Albania, thus showing open support to Prime Minister Edi Rama, on the eve of the elections in 2017 also.
AS532 Cougar – Albanian army.
PPS. Who’s the leggy brunette with the red bag skipping round the back of the official car in the third frame of the GazetExpres story? Looks like she’s expected. Has her holiday in Croatia been interrupted too? Daily Mail sidebar stuff, I think.
Cherie Blair’s invisibility during the current trip is passing strange. She used to be on extremely good financial terms with one Rezart Taci, who owns Taci Oil, and we have already mentioned her involvement in the quest for hydrocarbons under the superyacht-haunted Adriatic.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1296120/Cheries-jet-jaunt-tycoons-lair-Shady-millionaire-accused-assault-pays-167-000-bring-Mrs-Blair-Albania.html
But…CURSE OF BLAIR….Taci is currently in jail on charges of fraud, tax evasion and forgery.
http://www.independent.mk/articles/31907/USD+.+Mn+Confiscated+from+Albanian+Oil+Tycoon+Rezart+Taci
By their friends you will know them. Remind us who knighted Philip Green?
A significant factor in Blair’s interest in Albania (and the gangster Rama’s interest in him) is, obviously, his appointment as figurehead and lobbyist for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. As the UK media are pretty silent on this, RT will have to explain.
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/190012-tap-pipeline-italy-blair/
While Italians on the route of the pipeline and on the site of the huge refinery at its end aren’t too happy about it, the right people have got what they want and no-one under the cash fountain gives a flying one what the local farmers think. Which was the purpose of Tony’s involvement, after all. Albanian peasants’ views have received even less publicity. Probably the bribes offered (land purchase infrastructure improvement, employment) were satisfactory there, too.
The project is now well advanced: Ironically enough, its Albanian landfall is not very far north of where Blair is currently slumming it in a government villa near Himare.
http://www.tap-ag.com/news-and-events/tap-stories/2016/08/03/first-ball-valves-delivered-in-greece-and-albania
As usual, any little people in the way of the entrepreneurs get stiffed:
http://bankwatch.org/news-media/blog/we-have-no-other-option-albanian-communities-face-unjust-resettlement-process-trans
An apology, if this is correct. The slush fund for buying Tony’s (unsuccessful) involvement in Albania’s EU aspiration, was from Kuwait, not Abu Dhabi, as suggested above. Same difference, really,
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sq&u=http://www.rd.al/2016/08/pushimet-e-tonit-dhe-halli-i-klientit/&prev=search
(Shkelzen Maliqi – Because here the law is Maliqi, and Maliki is himself God’s own wand in this country. – is an advisor, PR and intellectual in Rama’s cabinet. He’s Kosovan, and to this untutored eye acts as a craftier copy of Alastair Campbell.)
Go Ba’al go.Surely by now he must be feeling your hot breath on his (allegedly) “hot” bum.
Great stuff as usual. xx
Thanks, Rose, but I’m coldblooded!
🙂
Meanwhile in Kosovo, someone’s lobbed a grenade at the parliament building:
https://aboutcroatia.net/news/balkan/explosion-rocks-kosovo-parliament-31814
It’s the Balkan way. Wonder if the Kosovars will be quite as keen on Tony after their independent basket case is annexed to Albania – an outcome under active discussion – while Rama and Blair get photographed as an item? And Rama’s not feeling all that secure in any case:
http://www.albaniannews.com/index.php?idm=7562&mod=2
Oh, yes he is. No elephants in this room.
Working this seam to death – here’s the payoff: Rama next to the Great Man exhibiting his (newly descaled) teeth. This is an official photo, unlike the helicopter ones above. Note also, the Holiday Shirt, open to display the Jesus-bling crucifix – subliminal message, ‘Tony Blair Faith Foundation, give generously.’ Job done, bugger off, Tony, one of my people will give you the cheque.
http://www.albeu.com/shqiperi/tony-blair-dhe-rama-bashke-me-pushime-ne-dhermi/254460/
Two days later, the Mail catches it, with the routine enquiry and the routine response:
A spokeswoman for Mr Rama said Mr Blair had been making a ‘short and private visit’. She added: ‘Mr Blair has never been paid for anything from the Albanian government.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3727357/It-s-Tirana-Tony-Just-weeks-trauma-Chilcot-Inquiry-Blair-grins-sun-Albania-s-PM-hasn-t-care-world.html
While the Albanian press had somehow got the idea that Blair was on holiday, and (see above) Blair’s ‘governance’ activities in Albania to date have technically been funded by Gulf states. Anyway he’s in the vicinity of Lipari now, and in the company of a journalist. DM please copy. Mary, thanks. Keep it up.
And he does. He buggers off. To Lipari, and her indoors has turned up to keep her eye on him:
https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://247.libero.it/lfocus/26778269/1/sicilia-terremoto-ml-2-1-il-06-08-2016-ore-09-53-isole-eolie-messina/&prev=search
Today’s 2.1 earthquake in Messina is probably coincidental, but the gods may be getting restive, too.
Tony obediently departs, clutching a negotiable instrument no doubt, for Lipari. Where Cherie (we are told) has also taken a break from her work for buy-to-let landlords (see months ago) and ex-director of La Stampa Marcello Sorgi is also of the party. Why, is a question for another day.
https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://247.libero.it/lfocus/26778269/1/sicilia-terremoto-ml-2-1-il-06-08-2016-ore-09-53-isole-eolie-messina/&prev=search
This may be a duplicate post. The original disappeared, but may return
Third time lucky. Sockpuppet engaged:
I didn’t even click that.
Briefly, Blair has departed the courts of Rama, as probably instructed, and is now to be found just north of mafia HQ, in the Aeolian Islands, possibly on a boat, possibly chartered. Cherie is with him now. Allegedly:
http://www.24live.it/130197-lipari-lex-premier-britannico-tony-blair-vacanza-alle-isole-eolie
Blair is accompanied on this trip by Marcello Sorgi (or Sorci, in one account). And Sorgi has completely understood Blair since 2007.
http://archiv.eurotopics.net/en/home/medienindex/media_articles/archiv_article/ARTICLE15849-Nouveaux-Riches-can-thank-Tony-Blair
Cui bono? Is this to be an extended interview for La Stampa, for which Sorgi is a columnist? Or just another freebie on a boat?
Sorgi’s most recent claim to fame is as PR – official or unofficial – for the controversial ENI-Total Tempa Rossa onshore oil production project, currently raising environmental concerns, and adjacent to Puglia, where the TAP pipeline route has raised similar objections
It may be that Massimo Carello, industrialist and EU-promoter, is Tony’s proud host on
FribiLipari this year, as in 2014.https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/08/apocalypse-blair/comment-page-5/#comment-473810
Blair’s visit to Albania tarnished its reputation and hit its tourist trade….
https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=sq&u=http://www.gazetatema.net/web/2016/08/07/shkenctari-rexhep-taip-zbulon-arsyen-pse-foto-me-blair-turpuron-shqiperine/&usg=ALkJrhjGxDqizsh7GOzZU-5JWItUtg6xew
Make what you will of the Google translation, but it seems likely that this visit backfired.
Tony Blair rarely manages to divorce business from the immense pleasure he gives his followers. So it would be unusual if his long-standing connection with Massimo Carello were solely based on the availability of a free week now and then in Massimo’s secluded villa on Lipari. And so it proves. London-based Corello is a NonExecutive Director of Canaccord Genuity Group , Canadian Overseas Petroleum , and Orsu Metals.
Cannacord is an investment bank. Tony is not uninterested in the securities aspect of this trade, and dabbles a little himself.
Canadian Overseas Petroleum is a junior gas and oil exploration company currently focussed on Liberia.
But Orsu Metals….ah, Orsu Metals:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orsu_Metals
Does the name ‘Kazakhstan’ ring any bells? Tony?
Bells? Yes, of course, and Golden bells too in Kazakhstan!
That’s Orsu’s business….mainly gold and copper.
Lovely island Lipari!
The Mail’s got him on the Sidebar of Shame at last. Truly revolting pics as the pap who’s been lurking in wait for Natalie Imbruglia decides to extend his brief. The contrast between gaunt, croaking, victimised broken-man Tony post-Chilcot and this horror, clearly aware of the photographer and striking ridiculous postures in That Shirt, bling keks and crucifix, couldn’t be greater. This is Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows. Co-starring Cherie as the washerwoman….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3730014/Grinning-Tony-Blair-spotted-holiday-Sicily-without-care-world-just-weeks-revealing-regrets-Iraq.html
Health warning: Emetic content: use mask, gloves and sickbag.
Mr. Blair has yet to respond to a request for him to read the work he brought into being:
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/aug/09/comedians-begin-edinburgh-recital-of-chilcot-report-iraq-out-and-loud
So modest.
Early warning for Egypt – looks as if the dog will be returning to his vomit shortly:
http://en.el-balad.com/2298911
High-level British delegation has arrived in Cairo earlier Tuesday to prepare for Former Prime Minister of UK, Tony Blair expected visit to Egypt within coming days to discuss latest developments in the region.
Assuming any of this to be true, what, in the name of Jesus in a business jet, is a ‘high level’ and hence presumably UK-government delegation doing ‘preparing’ for the visit of someone with whom it has no current acknowledged connection, to a foreign country for any reason whatever? And how much more is this going to cost UK plc in the way of subsidising Tony’s security, air travel, hotel bills etc?
Also troubling us is the matter of the global release of Tony’s holiday snaps on Lipari. A well-known technique for surviving a hostile interview, or a boring presentation, is to imagine the speaker naked. We fear that Sisi’s and Netanyahu’s hoods, discussing with Tony how best to screw the Palestinians, will now be unable not to imagine him in the abundant flesh and flapping drawers. These negotiations may well end in hilarity – though not for the Palestinians, obviously.
And that may in fact be a belated reference to last week’s visit by a UK parliamentary delegation, led by Howarth, which seems to have been sold the convenient (Saudi / Isr**li / junta) line that the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organisation while Sisi’s lot are cuddly bunnies. Hmmm.
He didn’t stay there long. The crowds queuing to touch his crucifix were perhaps importunate and overly familiar. Even Carello’s missus, who is a trustee of the Cherie Blair Philanthrofeminist Foundation, implored in vain for them to stay. Perhaps.
Gone away! To Umbria.
https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=it&u=http://www.perugiatoday.it/cronaca/visita-tony-blair-domenica-7-agosto-2016.html&usg=ALkJrhg0a2f8bCi1xNZPEPJCoWUYgXJoSQ
And then to Siena, this tells us. But not Puglia, which is to become gas pipeline country with Tony’s assistance.
The conditional tense is a little worrying. Certainly, Lebedev’s hospitality is famously undiscriminating, but he’s in the frame for the Johnson-Gove Brexit plot, and the Indie’s admiration of Blair has been unenthusiastic lately.
https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=it&u=http://www.perugiatoday.it/cronaca/visita-tony-blair-domenica-7-agosto-2016.html&usg=ALkJrhg0a2f8bCi1xNZPEPJCoWUYgXJoSQ
All may become clearer.
The last link is the same as the previous one?
Certainly is. Should have been something like this –
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/sarah-vine-lifts-the-lid-on-goves-brexit-negotiations-dinner-with-evgeny-lebedev/
From the mare’s mouth
Didn’t stay long with Evgeny, either. Gone to earth in Tuscany.
https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.lanazione.it/umbria/cronaca/blair-castello-procopio-1.2418043&prev=search
Mario Benedetti, mentioned as Blair’s cicerone here, is a Krav Maga instructor. This is apparently an Israeli martial art, so like so many of tony’s friends, he presumably knows naught of the Human Rights Convention. Is Tony feeling just a little insecure these days? And is he hitting the bottle? His hosts will be the Guicciardini-Strozzi wine firm.
Mature, fruity, good bite,slightly astringent finish…
http://winecellarclub.co.uk/images/content/24/main/a405958bbd0b6bd0e1d944ed8a94a701_0.jpg
Their Chianti’s pretty good too.
Till the 16th, apparently. When…
Across an Italian room, you spot these coming towards you. Do you
(a) Make your excuses and leave?
(b) No excuses, surreptitiously leave?
(c) Leave through the nearest window?
(d) Leave to find a priest to perform the exorcism?
http://www.quotidianodellumbria.it/quotidiano/sites/default/files/tony-blair.jpg
La Scroccone (The Scrounger): historical note (2013) :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair/10088221/Blairs-Tuscan-holiday-villa-seized-over-investigation-into-aristocratic-owner.html
However, this must have merely been a misunderstanding: the Strozzis appear to remain in the old home, and Tony’s traditional freebie in Tuscany has not been inconvenienced. Mrs Strozzi is, incidentally, a princess.
While we are waiting for the next shot of the Blair udders from San Gimigiano – a retrospective concerning the convenient appointment of Philip Sales, one of the judges who have just disallowed paid and registered members of the Labour Party from voting for their leader.
http://steelcityscribblings.uk/wp/2016/08/14/philip-sales-blairs-high-court-judge/
But steelcity doean’t include a most telling detail from that Guardian article:
The appointment of Sales as Treasury ‘devil’ was contentious as it used secret ‘soundings’ in the legal profession, a process condemned by Labour in opposition as a relic of the ‘old boys’ network’.
Barrister Josephine Hayes took the Government to court, claiming that the process discriminated against women. She alleged Irvine had engineered the choice of one of his own former colleagues for the plum job that is regarded as an almost cer tain route to becoming a High Court judge. Sales, 35 at the time, was regarded as ‘exceptionally’ young and far less experienced than other front-runners.
Despite opposition from senior judges, Hayes obtained details of the ‘secret soundings’ taken before his appointment, and this forced the Attorney-General to settle in order to prevent an embarrasing court case. The Government paid £5,000 into a charity of Hayes’s choice on condition that she did not disclose details of the material she had obtained.
In other words, she had a case, based on actual evidence. No doubt a stick was offered as well as a carrot. Also, she was instrumental in obtaining some reform of the system afterwards. I hope the voters of Witham put her in next time:
http://www.libdems.org.uk/josephine_hayes
Security is being tightened around Siena in advance of tomorrow’s famous Palio Di Siena, a sort of street horserace. Apparently there’s an enhanced threat of terrorism:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://guidominciotti.blog.ilsole24ore.com/2016/08/15/palio-di-siena-blindato-per-allerta-terrorismo-e-vietata-la-manifestazione-animalista/&prev=search
But surely no-one important enough to be blown up will be attending? We’re saying nothing, but if there’s a Mail snapper in the town, keep an eye open!
Which only goes to show how easy it is to get something wrong. The traditional day for the Palio is the 16th. But this year the race took place on the 15th. Bah. Blair invisible, but there’s a minder or two in some of the footage.
Incidentally, rather puts the Olympic dressage in the shade. They’re riding some pretty lively horses, rapidly, bareback, and hence without stirrups. Ought to be an Olympic event, in fact.
An FoI request gave birth this morning:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/546070/0350-15_FOI_digest_of_information.pdf
Heavily redacted and not very informative, but indicative of the FCO’s willing assistance to Blair in his Kazakhstan project. But this illuminates the continuing nature of Blair’s £5.3M sinecure, also the somewhat peremptory tone Nazarbayev’s people use on paid stooges –
We thank you for your participation in the VII AEF and II WAC* and look forward to further cooperation on the G-Global* project.
The essence of the letter:
1) We expect from you to support the project G-Global-initiative of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev (send a letter).
2) We would like you to put in the agenda of future events (forums, conferences, round tables, etc.) a discussion of prospects for implementation and promotion of the G-Global international project.
Background detail – rather more than FoI ever reveals –
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3554478/Tony-Blair-s-5million-deal-despot-Leaked-documents-lay-bare-ex-PM-s-greed.html
Blair’s original function apppears to have been to get Nazarbayev closer to European markets. No wonder Blair was so viscerally opposed to Brexit: if we go, his value drops dramatically…
http://www.kazembqatar.com/news/1321265368/
*VII AEF = 2014 Astana Economic Forum. Blair attended this. II WAC = 2014 World Anti-Crisis Conference (Astana)
G-Global is an e-platform instituted by Nazarbayev, and invoked in aid of his various attempts to attract foreign investment.
Just a hint here that Tony visited Tangier at some point this month. The most likely point being the latest..
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.elmundo.es/loc/2016/08/15/57adc247e2704eb9318b45b1.html&prev=search
Sarkozy, too. Something of a plethora of failed politico-oligarchs here.
A probably erroneous sighting back at Dhermi, in Albania:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sq&u=http://www.360grade.al/politike/item/17225-cfare-ka-harruar-tony-blair-qe-kthehet-ne-dhermi&prev=search
The illustrated helicopter is a 1996 Robinson R44, and it’s registered in Slovenia. Debatable whether it could carry the Blair entourage at all. However, for the record…
And what of ‘Lord’ Peter Mandelson, former Blair associate? Same modus operandi, as Peter Oborne explains:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3738355/PETER-OBORNE-Mandelson-Chinese-chums-disturbing-questions.html
Here is a disturbing example: we learned recently that in February Mandelson flew to Zimbabwe, where he has no known connections, for a secret meeting with the finance minister, Patrick Chinamasa.
The meeting was arranged and attended by the British Ambassador, Catriona Laing.
This was in itself extraordinary. Our missions overseas should not act as an introduction bureau, advocate or concierge for any passing politician or business leader, let alone a man who twice stepped down from Blair’s government because his word could not be trusted.
Our embassies are funded by the taxpayer, and their contacts, skills and resources should be used only in the national interest, for the diplomatic objectives set by elected ministers.
They should not be committed to serve any private interest.
This meeting had an especially sinister overtone because Lord Mandelson is paid by Lazard, a giant investment bank.
A few months later, it emerged that Mr Chinamasa was engaged in intense negotiations in an attempt to secure a $1.1 billion loan — from Lazard.
When Mandelson’s meeting and the subsequent negotiations were reported, they caused a storm of protest both here and in Zimbabwe.
Mandelson hurriedly denied that he had met Chinamasa on Lazard’s behalf. (As a general rule of modern politics, one should never believe anything about Peter Mandelson until he denies it himself.)
Happily, this sort of thing is being noticed, and criticised. And if it’s unethical for Mandelson, in the House of Lords, to expect consular assistance for what looks very much like private enterprise, how much more is it for Tony Blair, who holds no UK state office at all?
Phew. Blair’s oozed out of the shark shorts for another year, and he’s back in his ciomfort zone. Abu Dhabi, that is, yesterday:
http://www.ecssr.com/ECSSR/appmanager/portal/ecssr?_nfpb=true&_event=viewByCat&categoryId=Lectures&_pageLabel=ActivitiesPage&_nfls=false&lang=en
His speechwriter doesn’t have to do a lot for his wage, anyway. Opportunities and Challenges of Globalisation again. And as always we’re to focus on education, privatisation, liquidation.
Phew. Blair’s oozed out of the shark shorts for another year, and he’s back in his ciomfort zone. Abu Dhabi, that is, yesterday:
http://www.ecssr.com/ECSSR/appmanager/portal/ecssr?_nfpb=true&_event=viewByCat&categoryId=Lectures&_pageLabel=ActivitiesPage&_nfls=false&lang=en
His speechwriter doesn’t have to do a lot for his wage, anyway. Opportunities and Challenges of Globalisation again. And as always we’re to focus on education, privatisation, liquidation.
(Sock puppet relay as original lost)
Even the Emiratis must think he’s having a laugh….
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/tony-blair-holds-up-uae-as-model-nation
Too depressingly predictable to need quotation: summarised above, with a whinge on the side about Brexit. Still, it wouldn’t have gone down very well if he’d told the truth.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/united-arab-emirates-revealing-the-dark-face-of-the-gulf-state-where-human-rights-abuses-are-a-daily-a6683741.html
Footnote to the Albania manifestation: Google Translate adds to its charm, perhaps.
Then remember that there is a counselor; Tony Blair. He ran towards the beach Rama. Army helicopter sits on the head of Prime Minister Rama. Hug. English exercises of intrigue. Drink Spanish wine, as Blair does not like French wine. Hold conversations. Accounts still do. There was del hesapi*. Blair gives hope and fled. ALL not ever take for advice. I do not know cash-in.
Didn’t know that about the wine. L’enfer, c’est le vin ordinaire….
http://www.kohajone.com/2016/08/18/gushti-i-edi-rames-plazh-zaho-facebook-intriga-dhe-toni-blair/
*del hesapi – doesn’t translate in Albanian, but does in Turkish: ‘frantic calculation’ is near enough.
In a desperate attempt to associate the Blair brand with anything other than mayhem, Cherie gallops to the rescue…
https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/aug/19/cherie-blair-miriam-gonzalez-companies-act-slavery-law
….which is very noble of her considering the UAE’s heavy dependence on slave labour…
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/modern-day-slavery-in-focus+world/united-arab-emirates
…its devotion to her lucrative hobby horse, ’empowering women’…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/news/human-rights-watch-warns-expat-women-about-the-uae/
…and the fact that she and Tony acquired their London HQ (and much else) with UAE money.