Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter accused British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday of simply copying U.S. foreign policies instead of acting as a moderating influence.
"I have been really disappointed in the apparent subservience of the British government's policies related to many of the serious mistakes that have been originated in Washington," Carter told the BBC's Newsnight programme.
Carter, a Democrat who was president from 1977 to 1981, cited Britain's stance alongside Washington during the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and its participation in the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq.
He said there had been some reports Blair had tried behind the scenes to influence U.S. President George W. Bush but, if true, it had been to no avail.
Carter, who now tours the world promoting 'peace' through his foundation, said Britain had acted as a moderating influence in the past through the so-called special relationship between the two countries but this was no longer the case.
"This time no matter what kind of radical or ill-advised policy is proposed from the White House it seems to me that almost automatically the government of Great Britain would adopt the same policy," said Carter.
"When the British have a public news media appearance there seems to be a total acquiescence to whatever America proposed at the beginning," he said.
Blair's opinion poll ratings have dropped over a combination of the conflict in Iraq, sleaze within his ruling Labour Party and infighting in Labour's ranks over a successor when he steps down next year.
Some critics have accused Blair of being a "poodle" to Bush and slavishly following the Republican president's foreign policies. |