The classic film “Mr Smith Goes To Washington” embraces the “American Dream” and looks at a fresh and upright man who goes to Washington to clear up a corrupt Government. Well this week Tony Blair makes that trip to Washington. No one expects him to quite do what Mr Smith did in the film; but his trip and boast of a “special relationship” will be judged by four outcomes,
- Can he get the Middle East talks going again on the basis of UN Resolutions, the road map and the aim of having a viable Palestinian state that is not designed as a client or dependent state of Israel?
- Can he get the President to understand that America’s view of globalisation is not the rest of the world opening up their trade to American goods but also the Americans reducing their tariffs on foreign goods – particularly agriculture which would greatly help the developing world
- Can he get the US to embrace the Kyoto Agreement on climate change and even get them on board for a more extensive and effective Kyoto Phase 2 and
- Can he produce an effective exit strategy for engagement in Iraq and to do this as quickly as possible?
These should be priority points and on their success should be judged the effectiveness of any special relationship. If no progress is made then Mr Blair should consider whether going to Washington is all that it is made out to be.
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