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Blair's View From the Top

Sun, May 18, 2008 at 4:42:44 pm PDT

So what is the British government, or the world for that matter, getting out of this cushy sinecure for Tony Blair?

There are only 86 bedrooms at the American Colony Hotel and ten of them – more than an entire floor – have been booked indefinitely by Tony Blair to be used as offices by his mission to the Middle East.

The cost, much of it borne by the British taxpayer, is considerable. The Mail on Sunday has obtained a copy of Mr Blair’s contract with the hotel, which shows it is being paid nearly $1.34million – about £700,000 – annually for the office rooms alone.

When Mr Blair and his entourage of six bodyguards, a Press officer and Nick Banner, a former member of his team at Downing Street, are in town, the space available at the Colony shrinks still further.

Although the well appointed British Consulate-General is just three streets away, they sleep at the Colony – adding about £2,000 per night to the bill, not including food.

Since Mr Blair’s appointment last June, the mission has also purchased a £75,000 armoured car and spent £55,000 on security, £15,000 on phones, computers and stationery, £2,500 on car rental and £20,000 on general administration.

Naturally enough, when Mr Blair flies to Israel, something he does at least once a month, he and Mr Banner go first-class on British Airways, a return fare costing £2,424 each.

The bodyguards have to put up with club, which costs £1,732.

Mr Blair was appointed largely due to pressure from President Bush. He and his peace mission work for the diplomatic Quartet, an ad hoc coalition of the UN, the EU, Russia and the US.

The only thing the Quartet has ever produced has been failure. But I guess we’re not supposed to notice that.

56 comments

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1 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 4:44:30 pm reply quote

So what's the problem?

Lots more, where that came from.

2 yochanan  5/18/08 4:44:42 pm reply quote

english history esp in the middleast is complex.

3 DesertSage  5/18/08 4:46:11 pm reply quote

Diplomacy!

Lots of talking!
Lots of money!

Obama!

4 MandyManners  5/18/08 4:49:29 pm reply quote

Disgraceful.

5 Alouette  5/18/08 4:50:13 pm reply quote

Why is he staying in Jerusalem and not in that huge hunk of land that his country gave to the Hashemites like a piece of cake?

6 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 4:51:38 pm reply quote

...."go first-class on British Airways, a return fare costing £2,424 each..."

What a whimp....

If he was one of the Glitterati, he'd travel on this:


ttp[Link: www.vectorsite.net...]

Or this: [Link: www.yachtphoenix.com...]

What a wuss....

7 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 4:53:38 pm reply quote

Linkee no workee, try this instead......

[Link: www.celebrityjet.com...]

8 Sharmuta  5/18/08 4:53:52 pm reply quote

The euros are the ones always pressing for dialog, so let them pay for it. Hope this can actually serve as a lesson for them that "peace" has a price.

9 Sharmuta  5/18/08 4:57:30 pm reply quote
Dr Ashrawi revealed that last November, at a dinner hosted by Richard Makepeace, Britain's Consul-General in Jerusalem, a delegation of six high-level Palestinians voiced their concerns to Foreign Secretary David Miliband about Mr Blair's apparent lack of commitment.

"We were all shocked that someone of his experience was not delivering," said another of those present, who asked not to be named.

"Ten months after he was assigned, I can't quote a single thing that has made a real difference."

Nice- they're going to pin the lack of progress on Tony Blair.

For the umteenth time- why don't you people stop attacking Israel and remove from your parties' platforms the destruction of the Jewish state. You might be surprised how far that might get you.

10 godfrey  5/18/08 4:58:49 pm reply quote

Who do these bounders think they are?

11 yochanan  5/18/08 4:58:53 pm reply quote

he is living large but then a p.m. is used to it

12 Macker  5/18/08 4:58:58 pm reply quote

re: #3 DesertSage

Change!

13 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 4:59:17 pm reply quote

re: #9 Sharmuta

Will you STOP being logical?

Fer crying out loud.......

14 godfrey  5/18/08 5:00:05 pm reply quote

I'm betting Blair gets $250k for thirty minutes of platitude. Bleh.

15 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/18/08 5:01:46 pm
16 godfrey  5/18/08 5:02:30 pm reply quote

"I am an important person/entity because I paid $250k to listen to Tony Blair make me feel I'm part of a world-historical process, even though what he said was a predictable litany of empty platitudes. My only regret is that Cherie didn't wear a mantilla. That would've made a nice picture."

17 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  5/18/08 5:05:13 pm reply quote

Who knew Tony Blair would travel like fiddy cent?

18 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:05:48 pm reply quote

Thread meet fork.

19 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/18/08 5:07:24 pm
20 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:08:46 pm reply quote

In the end the saudis probably pay for it.

21 lawhawk  5/18/08 5:09:36 pm reply quote

What are they getting out of it?

A British Jimmy Carter? /thanks, I'll be here all week.

22 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 5:11:45 pm reply quote

re: #20 Attaboid

I disagree with you on that point.

The saudi-mites CUSTOMERS pay for it.

That would be you and me. (What did it cost you to gas up your car, this week?)

23 MandyManners  5/18/08 5:12:58 pm reply quote

re: #6 WhiteRasta

...."go first-class on British Airways, a return fare costing £2,424 each..."

What a whimp....

If he was one of the Glitterati, he'd travel on this:


ttp[Link:

24 Sharmuta  5/18/08 5:13:07 pm reply quote

re: #13 WhiteRasta

I know- sigh.

I just find it a bit disingenuous for the europeans to be whining about the money being spent on the conflict when they've done nothing for years on end but throw money at the problem. They're always giving the palis more money- and never looking at the results, but throw Tony Blair into the mix, and suddenly it's a major issue. Where the hell have these people been since the latest intifada started? What has all their previous aid money done? What's this money getting them now? A scape goat named Tony Blair, from the looks of it.

25 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 5:15:20 pm reply quote

re: #23 MandyManners

Sweet,, huh?

At least you could puke up good champagne......

26 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:16:38 pm reply quote

re: #22 WhiteRasta

I don't own a car.

*debris
*

27 WhiteRasta  5/18/08 5:17:57 pm reply quote

re: #26 Attaboid

But you get the idea?

Right.....?

28 Sharmuta  5/18/08 5:18:30 pm reply quote

Maybe they're pissed Tony's supporting the Israeli economy.....

29 hrhamilton  5/18/08 5:20:00 pm reply quote

It did not take long to mention that it is all Bush's fault. What are these peoploe going to do when Bush is no longer President?

30 vxbush  5/18/08 5:20:53 pm reply quote

re: #26 Attaboid

I don't own a car.

*debris
*

Except, of course, your car could be debris in a twister....

/

31 Syrah  5/18/08 5:22:47 pm reply quote

re: #28 Sharmuta

It could be George Bush's way of keeping Tony Blair from jet setting around the globe blathering on about Global Warming and the poor little Polar Bears.

32 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:23:01 pm reply quote

re: #27 WhiteRasta

Fungible. But the sauds probably feel they are paying.

33 Mich-again  5/18/08 5:23:49 pm reply quote

re: #29 hrhamilton

It did not take long to mention that it is all Bush's fault. What are these peoploe going to do when Bush is no longer President?

Well, it is customary in the workplace to blame the current problems on some employee who no longer works there. I believe there is a 3-month free pass for everyone else when anyone in management moves on to another job.

34 Sharmuta  5/18/08 5:25:26 pm reply quote

re: #31 Syrah

It could be George Bush's way of keeping Tony Blair from jet setting around the globe blathering on about Global Warming and the poor little Polar Bears.

Well- if so, then it's a two-fer. Tony's increasing his carbon footprint with all that jet setting. Those poor bears! I blame hamas.

35 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:26:34 pm reply quote

This is one of my favorite Zappa tunes.

36 Grammy Cracker  5/18/08 5:27:57 pm reply quote

re: #35 Attaboid

This is one of my favorite Zappa tunes.

Okay....Is this the Sunday night drinking thread?

37 markie  5/18/08 5:30:16 pm reply quote

I noticed they were very forthcoming about crediting GWB for getting TB appointed, but it sounds like they're trying to associate GWB with Blair's seemingly posh spending. What's with that?

38 song_and_dance_man[deleted]  5/18/08 5:31:15 pm
39 markie  5/18/08 5:32:08 pm reply quote

re: #35 Attaboid

Good one alright.

I first listened to that in high school. Crap, I'm old.

40 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:33:20 pm reply quote

re: #36 Grammy Cracker

I think so, and pronounce it thus!

41 Attaboid  5/18/08 5:35:24 pm reply quote

re: #40 Attaboid

Next thread!

42 Sharmuta  5/18/08 5:37:05 pm reply quote

re: #37 markie

I noticed they were very forthcoming about crediting GWB for getting TB appointed, but it sounds like they're trying to associate GWB with Blair's seemingly posh spending. What's with that?

Your usual disingenuous european hypocrisy. It's okay for the palis to waste money with zero results but if it's some friend of Bush's well- that's just not cool.

43 jorline  5/18/08 5:40:34 pm reply quote

Good evening lizards...time for an open thread?

44 WriterMom  5/18/08 5:46:27 pm reply quote

The American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem is the epicentre of Palestinian political activity and the chief watering hole for the Jew-hating shmucky journalists, Jewish and non-Jewish from around the world and in Israel who HATE Israel with a passion. They have their Arab house boys, and go to Ramallah for lunch-where Jews normally get lynched. It is not suprising that this is where Tony Blair has decided to make camp.

45 Opinionated  5/18/08 5:51:50 pm reply quote

No need for Blair, our political Messiah has spoken on peace in the Mideast.

It's change. It's easy.

"The Israelis are going to have to acknowledge that some of the settlement policies make it very difficult to create a functioning Palestinian state. The Palestinians, they've got to recognize Israel and they've got to stop threatening violence," Obama said at a campaign stop in Gresham, Oregon.

[Link: www.haaretz.com...]

It's this easy. Throw some more Jews from their homes and the Arabs make their 100th promise to recognize Israel and promise, cross their fingers, or whatever, that they will not engage in anymore violence.

46 Opinionated  5/18/08 5:54:46 pm reply quote

Look who's complaining that life is unbearable- like in Sderot.

"My cafe has become Sderot, Harbid said,

Gaza cafe bombed amid crackdown on Western pop culture

[Link: www.haaretz.com...]

47 Dustyvet  5/18/08 7:13:45 pm reply quote

"We are not amused..."


Quote from Buckingham Palace....

48 anat  5/18/08 7:51:20 pm reply quote

I once had a dinner in the restaurant of the American colony hotel. It was a business meeting with a lady from Ramaalah to try and develop an Israeli-Palestinian project for the preservation of historical monuments. The year was 1996 (or there about), and this was my first awakening to the fact that the Oslo accord was a sham, as she was not really interested in the project and only lectured me about Palestinian supposed 'rights' and Israeli supposed 'crimes'.

Anyway, the dinner was great, and the hotel was full of foreign journalists - BBC, CNN et al - all of them enjoying the old colonial atmosphere of the place. You simply expect Lawrence of Arabia to pop around the corner. A great place for colonial romanticism masquerading as progressive politics.

49 Hawaiian cocoNUT  5/18/08 7:57:27 pm reply quote

Dear Mr. Blair,
While at the beautiful American Colony Hotel (which I once visited), please take the time to watch the children programs shown on Hammas TV. It will help you to understand why your mission has no chance and why a man of honor like yourself should stop wasting efforts, money, and hope and go home.

50 profitsbeard  5/18/08 9:45:04 pm reply quote

Tony and Billy Jeff will be milking the same Islamo-cash cows, apparently.

Cravenly coasting for cupidity while the West burns.

51 Clio  5/18/08 10:49:57 pm reply quote

The American Colony Hotel is in an Arab neighborhood of Jerusalem -- a neighborhood occupied by Jordan 1949-67.

It has always been an outpost for the Middle East equivalent of the British Raj, and is still a favorite hotel for visitors who want to keep away from those those Jews cluttering up Jerusalem.

It is not insignificant that Blair picked it for his personal Colonial Office annex.

52 Sacred Plants  5/19/08 2:10:15 am reply quote

The best human shields money can buy!

/(short of ISM zombies)

53 TheMole  5/19/08 3:46:34 am reply quote

Thanks Clio, anat, and WriterMom for the info about the hotel. I am simply amazed that a hotel anywhere in the Middle East, Israel included, would actually be called the American Colony Hotel. I'm doubly amazed that Tony Blair, after all the "Bush's poodle" insults, would go anywhere near anything named American Colony.

54 Dustyvet  5/19/08 7:14:52 am reply quote

re: #53 TheMole

Thanks Clio, anat, and WriterMom for the info about the hotel. I am simply amazed that a hotel anywhere in the Middle East, Israel included, would actually be called the American Colony Hotel. I'm doubly amazed that Tony Blair, after all the "Bush's poodle" insults, would go anywhere near anything named American Colony.

Well every Saturday night, they reenact the battle of Bunker Hill!

55 anat  5/19/08 8:29:37 am reply quote

From the hotel's website:

The rich history of the American Colony dates back to the late nineteenth century, following a series of tragic events that led Horatio and Anna Spafford, a devoutly Christian family, to leave their hometown of Chicago in 1881 in order to find peace in the holy city of Jerusalem and offer aid to families in distress.

Drawing strength through their faith and comfort from the words of the hymn “It is Well with my Soul,” written by Horatio following the loss of his four young daughters in a shipwreck, the Spaffords, together with sixteen other members of their church, journeyed to Jerusalem and settled together in a small house in the Old City.

They were never missionaries, but aimed at living as the early Christians did, a simple life with everything in common. With their charitable door open at all times to both their Jewish neighbours and the Bedouin from across the Jordan River, they soon established good relations with the local population and became well known for their acts of benevolence and assistance to the community. People referred to them simply as ‘the Americans.’ Seventy Swedes living in the United States joined ‘the Americans’ in 1894 followed by another fifty five two years later, and the now much larger group required a much larger home. The home they finally bought was initially designed as a palace for a pasha and his four wives. That palace would soon become The American Colony Hotel.

The seeds of the American Colony Hotel were sown in 1902, when Baron Ustinov (grandfather of actor Sir Peter Ustinov), finding the Turkish inns of the time unacceptable, needed suitable accommodations in Jerusalem to house his visitors from Europe and America. Before long, the American Colony emerged as a point of lodging for Western travelers and pilgrims whose expectations for high standards of luxury and service were not met by the establishments then existing in Jerusalem.

Read on here.

56 kirche  5/19/08 9:32:50 am reply quote

#53 themole

i was thinking the same thing...


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