[aquariusPEI]

Tony Blair doesn't want to be seen in Washington picking up the medal George Bush gave him for supporting the bogus invasion and occupation of Iraq, a place where Americans and Brits continue to die.

$1:

Blair refuses to accept US award

August 23, 2004

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair is refusing to fly to the US to receive a medal bestowed on him by the nation for his support over last year's Iraq war, a London newspaper reported today.

US President George W. Bush has put huge pressure on his closest ally to pick up the Congressional Medal of Honour in person, the Sunday Mirror said, quoting a senior British government source.

Mr Blair is immensely popular with large sections of the American public for his staunch support of the Iraq war and the White House believes a visit by the prime minister now would provide a much-needed boost to Mr Bush's re-election campaign, the weekly said.

"There has been a lot of telephone traffic between the White House and Downing Street over the medal in recent week," the Sunday Mirror quoted a senior government source as saying.

"George Bush wants the prime minister to come to Washington and pick up the medal, which is the highest honour America can bestow on a foreigner.

"But he has refused for more than a year now and for good reason. He cannot possibly accept an award for the Iraq war when British and American troops continue to risk their lives there."

Mr Blair is concerned also that a trip to the US now would effectively be giving a boost to Bush ahead of November's presidential elections.

"The Democrats are watching the situation very carefully and there would be uproar if Tony travelled to Washington to meet (Republican) Bush so close to the presidential elections," the government source said.

"But Bush isn't letting up. The White House has already let it be known that they feel slighted because of this and believe they can use this to put pressure on Blair to get him out there."

source

[Gangrenous]

Where has this biggest ally shit come from. I know this is a wasted breath type of topic, but where did we go in all of this. Has Canada done that much wrong that the US can no longer call us our greatest aly?

I realize our militarty is in short supply but is this the way to go? Have the british actually complimented us by this or just insulted the US? Did the compliment the US? How many british soldiers were lost in iraq? How many Canadian soldiers were lost in Afghanistan?

I think credit is deserverved where it is due and the British are not one of them. Just because I said yes you should go kick someones ass (regardless of whether its right or wrong), that does not give you the right to a medal......

[sk1d]

hey, atleast blair knows he fucked up and isn't willing to piss off his own people anymore...w doesn't seem to get that yet

[Scape]

I didn't know the CMOH was made out of 30 peices of silver.

[-Mario-]

Gangrenous Gangrenous:

Where has this biggest ally shit come from. I know this is a wasted breath type of topic, but where did we go in all of this. Has Canada done that much wrong that the US can no longer call us our greatest aly?

I realize our militarty is in short supply but is this the way to go? Have the british actually complimented us by this or just insulted the US? Did the compliment the US? How many british soldiers were lost in iraq? How many Canadian soldiers were lost in Afghanistan?

I think credit is deserverved where it is due and the British are not one of them. Just because I said yes you should go kick someones ass (regardless of whether its right or wrong), that does not give you the right to a medal......

I think they are refering to the Iraq campain. Canada had no part in the Iraq invasion. It wouldn't make us an aly in this situation.

[mike2277]

Hmm...I thought the CMOH was awarded for courage under fire. The House of Commons can get a little rowdy at times, but I wasn't aware it had degenerated into gun play.

[RoyalHighlander]

I didnt think the CMOH was awarded to. A) forieners, and B) non military personnel.. They mentioned the award was the highest that can be awarded a non American... Could it be the "Freedom Medal " hes getting???

[aquariusPEI]

I checked several other sources RH and they all mention it's the CMOH.
It does seem inappropriate to give medals for needlessly endangering soldiers lives, whatever the medal is called.
Maybe it's for all the slings and arrows Blair’s popularity and credibility suffered by aligning himself with the neocon war mongers, and backing the latest of George W Bush's failures.
Blair recognizes the hypocrisy.
He'll wait till he leaves 10 Downing to pick up his trinket from George.
Thanks to his associations with George the III and his Needless Invasion, the wait won’t be as long as many thought when Blair first came to office.


Sunday Mirror,UK
And [Bush} is putting huge pressure on Mr Blair to pick up the Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded by America for his unswerving support in Afghanistan and Iraq.


Herald Sun
US President George W. Bush has put huge pressure on his closest ally to pick up the Congressional Medal of Honour in person, the Sunday Mirror said, quoting a senior British government source.

[aquariusPEI]

Gangrenous Gangrenous:

Where has this biggest ally shit come from. I know this is a wasted breath type of topic, but where did we go in all of this. Has Canada done that much wrong that the US can no longer call us our greatest aly?

According to the neocons, yes.
The world is a stark black and white place for them, and they carry grudges a long, long time..
You either support them 100%, always and everywhere, or you are against them.
Canada refused to back Bush in his invasion of Iraq without UN involvement.
Bush is on his way out and Canada/US relations will improve automatically as a result.

[mike2277]

It seems the recent news reports have been in error. Blair has not been awarded the CMOH but the "Congressional Gold Medal".

look here

[Ralph]

There's been a lot of talk lately about the Silver Star and other medals of bravery in wartime.

There recently was another act of even more extraordinary courage, displayed in Iraq by a 24-year-old soldier sergeant who is deserving of a higher medal beyond the Silver Star -- the rare and esteemed Congressional Medal of Honor.

I am referring to Sgt. Joseph Darby, who exhibited moral conviction in the face of scorn, charges of betrayal, and undoubtedly eternal guilt by turning in his friends and colleagues in the 372nd Military Police Company, who systematically abused prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison.

Of the 3,459 Medals of Honor that have been given since the Civil War -- the last for the war in Somalia and none in Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Desert Storm, or the current war in Iraq -- this would undoubtedly be the first for moral bravery. In fact, the rules might need to be changed to allow President George Bush, with the approval of Congress, to bestow this medal on a man who displayed a different kind of bravery on the battlefield that not only saved lives, but perhaps singlehandedly ended atrocities of prisoners and allowed America to deal with these un-American acts with American justice before the entire world.

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What an extraordinary and appropriate message bestowing this medal would send to the armed forces, to the American people, and to the entire world. America would be honoring a man who dared to speak out for what he knew was morally wrong under the stress of battle with our highest award for gallantry.

The Congressional Medal of Honor is, after all, the highest award for "valor in action."

Consider the valor of Sgt. Darby.

His actions were not a spur-of-the-moment act of bravery. Rather, by his own recent testimony, he said he agonized for a full month after seeing the pictures of the prisoner abuse. He knew that by revealing this to authorities, he likely would be sending his friends to prison.

These were not just Army friends. Joseph Darby was a reservist, as was his entire company. They were from the same community. Joseph Darby understood he would have to return to a town where he might be viewed as the "coward" who was responsible for blowing the whistle on his own friends, a betrayal where, normally, displaying loyalty is considered the highest virtue.

When I was in Vietnam, and even before -- clear back to basic training -- a soldier was told over and over that his first priority is to look out for his buddy. Watch your buddy's back, we were told, and he will look out for yours. You are part of a family, we were reminded time and again. That was and is the military ethos.

So, for Sgt. Joseph Darby to come to the painful conclusion, after long agony, that there was a higher moral calling than loyalty to his friends and his 372nd Military Police Company, and then to stand alone and turn them in -- what greater courage is there?

In an understatement of a man seeking no glory, Sgt. Darby said, "It was a hard call to have to make the decision to put your friends in prison."

Some could receive as much as 38 years in prison, if convicted.

Those rogue soldiers represent the worst of America. Sgt. Joseph Darby represents the best of America. He was willing to bear the suffering, the agony, the guilt and the scorn to do what he knew was right.

Said Sgt. Darby, "It violated everything I personally believed in, and everything I was taught about the rules of war. It was a moral thing more than anything."

If this act of valor is not worthy of the Congressional Medal of Honor, what is?

[mike2277]

Rep. Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas, wasn't in favour of giving a medal to PM Blair.
his speech

Paul's objection had nothing to do with the the War on Terror or Iraq. It seems the good congressman just can't stomach giving a medal to a socialist.

"I find it particularly unfortunate that the Republican-controlled Congress would nominate Tony Blair to receive this award. His political party is socialist: Britain under Blair has a system of socialized medicine and government intervention in all aspects of the commercial and personal lives of its citizens. Socialism is an enemy of freedom and liberty - as the 20th century taught us so well. It is the philosophical basis for a century of mass-murder and impoverishment."

You heard it here first folks. Socialized heath care is the largest threat to the continued existence of the free world!

[aquariusPEI]

Mike -Thanks for the clarification regarding the medal Blair won't touch with a 10 foot pole at the moment.
Regarding the comments of the Republican from Texas,
"I find it particularly unfortunate that the Republican-controlled Congress would nominate Tony Blair to receive this award. His political party is socialist: Britain under Blair has a system of socialized medicine and government intervention in all aspects of the commercial and personal lives of its citizens."
"Friends" and "enemies" are interchangable labels to this bunch, depending on which way the winds of political opportunity are blowing for them.
That's why I said in my earlier post that Canada/US relations will improve the moment Bush gets shown the door.
Canada may not be a friend to Bush and his neocon masters, but as a nation we continue to be a friend to the people of the United States.


.

[UglyYank]

The article is a lie. The CMH is NOT awarded to civilians and is only awarded to those serving the the US military and then only under certain circumstances.

[Magni]

Tony Blairs refusal to accept the Congressional Gold Medal at this time is only about political survival, when he wants the whole Iraq issue to go away it'll simply bring up all of the those annoying issues about him distorting evidence to go to war, being A poodle to An extreme right-wing president when he is supposed to be A left-wing socialist etc...All this'll do is remind people of these things.