Middle East Focus-Arabia Deserta: Tony Blair’s Revolving Door, International Oil, Persian Gulf Potentates, An English Sarah Palin……………

Arabia Deserta

Tony Blair’s Revolving Door, International Oil, Persian Gulf Potentates, An English Sarah Palin……………

“Tony Blair waged an extraordinary two-year battle to keep secret a lucrative deal with a multinational oil giant which has extensive interests in Iraq. The former Prime Minister tried to keep the public in the dark over his dealings with South Korean oil firm UI Energy Corporation. Mr Blair - who has made at least £20million since leaving Downing Street in June 2007 - also went to great efforts to keep hidden a £1million deal advising the ruling royal family in Iraq's neighbour Kuwait…….. They will increase concerns that Mr Blair is using his role as the West's Middle East envoy for personal gain. The revelations also shed fresh light on his astonishing earnings, which include lucrative after-dinner speaking, consultancies with banks and foreign governments, a generous advance for his forthcoming memoirs, as well as the pension and other perks he enjoys as a former Prime Minister. The full extent of his income is cloaked in secrecy because he has constructed a complex web of shadowy companies and partnerships which let him avoid publishing full accounts detailing all the money from his commercial ventures. Critics also point out that a large proportion of his earnings comes from patrons in America and the Middle East - a clear benefit from forging a close alliance with George Bush during his invasion of Iraq…………”

In fact he is perfect as Middle East envoy. The Arab potentates and oligarchs like them to be like Tony. That means he is their kind of guy, a very malleable flexible guy. Even the corrupt Palestinian kleptocrats in Ramallah may be able to learn trick or two from him, perhaps even the corrupt Likud leaders. But not the potentates on the Persian Gulf: some of them can write ”the book” on the subject.
It just occurred to me that Tony is sort of like an English Sarah Palin, although he probably is not as interesting on a hunting trip. Besides, she is probably much more honest, although not necessarily more consistent. I shall add that to the title.
Cheers
mhg

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