Blair claims he's in more danger in London than Baghdad

[Pelranius]

Surely he can't be serious.

June 22, 2007
I’m more likely to be assassinated here than in Baghdad, says Blair
Philip Webster, Political Editor

Tony Blair believes that he has been in greater danger of assassination on the streets of Britain than in Iraq.

In a surprise insight during a series of lengthy interviews with The Times Mr Blair, when asked why he had not worn body armour during a recent visit to Baghdad, said: “It’s far more likely I’ll shake hands with a group of kids today and somebody does something crazy than on a day in Iraq.”

Mr Blair was being interviewed in a Birmingham hotel when he made the remark. He said: “I don’t mean it’s more dangerous in Redditch than Baghdad, I mean if I am to be assassinated its more likely to be in circumstances where I am out mixing with people but my people are not anticipating danger.”

On why he had not worn body armour, while officials, press and the military had, he said: “The politicians there don’t wear it. So if they don’t why should I? It’s not a bravura thing.” Mr Blair’s remarks appear in The Times Magazine tomorrow in an article by Robert Crampton, who has spent much of the Prime Minister’s final weeks in office with him.

As Mr Blair prepares to step down next week, residents near the £3.65 million townhouse in Connaught Square in London where he is planning to live have spoken for the first time of their anger with Downing Street and the police for failing to disclose the security implications.

Mr Blair has been described by security analysts as one of the top five living targets for a terrorist attack. His new home is just 100 yards from the heart of London’s Arab community and is close to a school and a medical centre. Scotland Yard said that the force could not comment on security matters.

In the interview Mr Blair confirmed publicly for the first time that he plans to set up a foundation to promote cooperation between the faiths, and he did not deny reports suggesting that he will convert to Roman Catholicism.

As reported in The Times yesterday he wants to work on the Middle East peace process and is being lined up as a special envoy for the Quartet group of peacemakers – the US, the EU, the UN and Russia. He also intends to continue his work on Africa and climate change. He is likely to discuss the foundation when he meets the Pope in Rome tomorrow.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/p ... 969249.ece

[K. A. Pital]

I don’t mean it’s more dangerous in Redditch than Baghdad, I mean if I am to be assassinated its more likely to be in circumstances where I am out mixing with people but my people are not anticipating danger.

Yeah. Because ordinary people in Iraq of course anticipate danger day and night - unlike you, who actually... hey, did Blair ever GO to Iraq in the recent years, or did he not?

[Plekhanov]

The man's a genius, few others could have offended both Britons (by suggesting we're a bunch of unstable nutters likely to lash out in murderous violence at any time) and Iraqis (by grossly misrepresenting what they are suffering in a large part thanks to him) so comprehensively in a few short words.

Did Blair even leave the green zone the last time he visited Iraq?

[Admiral Valdemar]

The man's a genius, few others could have offended both Britons (by suggesting we're a bunch of unstable nutters likely to lash out in murderous violence at any time) and Iraqis (by grossly misrepresenting what they are suffering in a large part thanks to him) so comprehensively in a few short words.

Did Blair even leave the green zone the last time he visited Iraq?

Yeah.

In a helicopter with gunship escort.

I never really thought of it that way, but he does seem to shine at insulting our intellect quite a lot.

[Colonel Olrik]

Hmm, it's not like some of the asinine comments from Bush & Co. He's just justifying why he didn't feel the need of body armour in Iraq - precisely because he wasn't shaking hands and mixing with people, but rather under heavy escort.

[K. A. Pital]

On a second thought, his suggestion that he might be assassinated in Britain might not relate to the British, more like to a terrorist act or something. He probably didn't intend the phrase to look fucking dumb, but it really does.

[Glocksman]

On a second thought, his suggestion that he might be assassinated in Britain might not relate to the British, more like to a terrorist act or something. He probably didn't intend the phrase to look fucking dumb, but it really does.

On its own it does look dumb, but he does have a point with this:

I don’t mean it’s more dangerous in Redditch than Baghdad, I mean if I am to be assassinated its more likely to be in circumstances where I am out mixing with people but my people are not anticipating danger.”

Ideally the security people would display the same level of alertness whether he's in Redditch (wherever the hell that is) or in Baghdad.
However I'd say they'd be paying more attention and have more resources to draw on in Baghdad than if Blair was in some kindergarten for a 'show and tell' session.

[Patrick Degan]

On a second thought, his suggestion that he might be assassinated in Britain might not relate to the British, more like to a terrorist act or something. He probably didn't intend the phrase to look fucking dumb, but it really does.

Blair's about to step down in a couple of weeks or so. Assassinating him would accomplish absolutely nothing, so who'd bother?

[Lord Woodlouse]

On a second thought, his suggestion that he might be assassinated in Britain might not relate to the British, more like to a terrorist act or something. He probably didn't intend the phrase to look fucking dumb, but it really does.

Blair's about to step down in a couple of weeks or so. Assassinating him would accomplish absolutely nothing, so who'd bother?

Less than a week. He steps down on Wednesday.

[Elaro]

I don’t mean it’s more dangerous in Redditch than Baghdad, I mean if I am to be assassinated its more likely to be in circumstances where I am out mixing with people but my people are not anticipating danger.”

Ideally the security people would display the same level of alertness whether he's in Redditch (wherever the hell that is) or in Baghdad.

So he's insulting his security people.

[Dartzap]

I don’t mean it’s more dangerous in Redditch than Baghdad, I mean if I am to be assassinated its more likely to be in circumstances where I am out mixing with people but my people are not anticipating danger.”

Ideally the security people would display the same level of alertness whether he's in Redditch (wherever the hell that is) or in Baghdad.

So he's insulting his security people.

Not really - Its quite a sane idea really, that whilst he's out and about meeting the people, someone will get the clever idea in their heads to shoot him then and there - what are Mi5 going to do about it? They will probably be too gar away to do anything(Gun crime being quite an issue these days in London) It's not like he goes around London in a Hummer or something.

I personally can't see what's wrong with what he said - it made sense to me.

[His Divine Shadow]

On a second thought, his suggestion that he might be assassinated in Britain might not relate to the British, more like to a terrorist act or something. He probably didn't intend the phrase to look fucking dumb, but it really does.

Blair's about to step down in a couple of weeks or so. Assassinating him would accomplish absolutely nothing, so who'd bother?

Just for feelgood reasons.

[Pelranius]

But wouldn't there be more, better experienced people in Baghdad with motivation to kill Blair, and considerably better weaponry than whatever some lunatic in London can find?

[TithonusSyndrome]

But wouldn't there be more, better experienced people in Baghdad with motivation to kill Blair, and considerably better weaponry than whatever some lunatic in London can find?

Obviously, you've never seen any Guy Ritchie films, nor any episodes of Monkey Dust.

[Elfdart]

Maybe Blair should put his money where his mouth is and take up residence at Number 10 Euphrates Street in Baghdad when he leaves office.

[Vympel]

Obviously, you've never seen any Guy Ritchie films, nor any episodes of Monkey Dust.

*gets image of Boris the Blade/ the Bulletdodger walking out of his house with an AK-74 w/ GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher*

[weemadando]

Obviously, you've never seen any Guy Ritchie films, nor any episodes of Monkey Dust.

*gets image of Boris the Blade/ the Bulletdodger walking out of his house with an AK-74 w/ GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher*

Bah, I'm getting this image:

"What's that noise?"
"Must be the kids in the flat again."
"What are they doing?"
"They've broken into the zoo again. They're doing handbrake turns on a giraffe."/"They're making Vin Diesel fight a bear."/"They're expanding the EU."

Or the classic:
"That's the history of the hundred years war. What have you really been doing?"
"Trying to fill a bathtub with cum."


THANK YOU ABC2!

And yes. London is dangerous, after all, the Avengers retired ages ago - who's going to protect it now?

[Durandal]

Well come on. It makes sense. He's more likely to be assassinated in his home country. After all, to be assassinated, one must be deliberately targeted.

Blair never said he was at a greater danger of being randomly killed in London than in Baghdad. It makes perfect sense, you see.

[Pelranius]

Well, I suppose we could take Mr. Blair's word at face value, since it's highly unlikely that he'll be ever visiting Iraq now that he's getting out of office.

[Solauren]

He is right about the danger.

People in Iraq are less likely to recognize him and want to blow him away for being an asshole. Also, odds are the military in Iraq would protect him.

Like anyone in London would do that for him.

So, Iraq is safer, but just for him.