It seemed like a good idea at the time. That has to be the way Tony Blair is feeling about George Bush’s visit to the U.K. just now. The planning for the trip started months ago, before the attacks on Bagdad began.
The visit was originally intended to be a victory lap for the leaders of the Anglo-American alliance, who were anticipating a swift and decisive military win. But things have turned out differently. Today, half the police force in London has been deployed to contain the hundreds of thousands of protestors who are already converging on the city.
And while Prime Minister Blair insists that this is the right time for the U.K. to stand firm with the United States in defeating terrorism, many are wondering if the special relationship can survive the post-war hangover.
Guests:
Jon Meacham, managing editor of Newsweek magazine and author of ‘Franklin and Winston': An Epic Friendship
John Pienaar, chief political correspondent at BBC’s 5 Live.