Bill Clinton defends Blair ahead of award ceremony - Telegraph

Quote:

Bill Clinton has defended Tony Blair from his critics as the former prime minister collected a major political award. Mr Blair was in the United States to receive the medal, and took a break from the reignited controversy over his leadership back home. The former US president said that in politics "the best you can ever hope for is to have had a positive record, because everybody makes mistakes". Producing a smile from Mr Blair that could have reached across the ocean, he added: "I think when you read Tony Blair's book you will conclude that he has had quite a good run and the score is very high on the positive side." In the course of praising the Special Relationship, Mr Clinton evidently recognised that in Europe, if not America, Mr Blair's decision to join the Iraq War is regarded as a permanent stain on his reputation. "People can argue about Iraq – we will find out about Iraq as time passes," he said, "but on balance it [the Special Relationship] has been a good thing for the world because we are not imperialist any more and whatever we do we have the capacity other countries don't". Swapping memories of their shared time in office, the two politicians sat side-by-side on bar stools like a pair of old reunited crooners. Later, Mr Clinton was due to present Mr Blair with the Liberty Medal on Philadelphia's Independence Mall. The annual prize is granted by the National Constitution Centre to "men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people the world over". Previous recipients have included Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary General. Mr Blair was honoured for his work with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which promotes religious tolerance, for his initiative to improve governance in Africa and for advancing peace in Northern Ireland. The radiant scene could not have been a greater contrast than the egg-throwing disruption of a book-signing by Mr Blair in Dublin earlier this month, which led to the cancellation of a planned appearance in London. At times Mr Blair came close to adulation of his former ally, recalling anecdotes that illustrated Mr Clinton's ready wit and sharp insight. He remembered that when visiting Washington in 1996 as Leader of the Opposition, Mr Clinton was asked: "Are you sitting next to the future British PM?" It was a question full of dangers, to which he answered: "I don't know but I hope he's sitting next to the future American President." Mr Clinton in turn heaped praise on Mr Blair's book A Journey. Both men defended the Third Way, the centrist political tendency started in the US which inspired New Labour, as still the best guide for governments on either side of the Atlantic. The medal, first given in 1989, carried a $100,000 (£65,000) cash prize, which Mr Blair said he would donate to his faith foundation and the African Governance Initiative. It was the third major honour Mr Blair has received from the United States. In January 2009 he collected the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award, from then President George W Bush. In 2003, he was granted the Congressional Gold Medal of Honour, in recognition of his "steadfast stand against evil". He has never collected the prize. Reports at the time said he was uncomfortable of the timing of the award just after the Iraq invasion.

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Two war criminals commiserate together and give each others hugs and medals... at the tax payers' expense.

Annoying.

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