Bush offers Blair Congressional Medal of Honor; Blair says no

[Guest guest]

> .com>

> Sun, 22 Aug 2004 12:28:49 -0700

> George offers Blair Cong. Medal of Honor;

Blair says no

>

> Tony Blair Refuses to Travel to US for Bush Medal

> Photo-Op

>

> The Australian, August 22, 2004

>

>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10534577%2

> 55E1702,00.html

>

> British Prime Minister Tony Blair is refusing to fly

> to the United

> States 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 Honor 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 honor 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 traveled 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. "