I am a hardcore anglophile but I really don’t care much about the wedding. But now I’m pissed. Did you know that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown weren’t invited allegedly because of the Iraq war? The place is going to be a Star War cantina of Middle Eastern brutes, but two former Prime Ministers weren’t invited? Tom Gross has more.
Who says they weren't invited because of Iraq? The quote of "crime" in your link appears to be ascribed to no-one.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseActually it has nothing to do with the war in iraq. Prince William did not want blair invited because he (the prince) was angry with the way blair politicised princess dianas death for his own polical gain/popularity.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThey invited Margaret Thatcher. That should get them some bonus points.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIt's not an official State event. That's why Blair, Brown, Obama and other heads of state or former heads of state weren't invited.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbusePeter Oborne claims undermining the Royal Family was part of New Labour's agenda during their time in government.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI heard the same thing as ExpatAsia--William absolutely abhors Blair and refused to have him at the wedding, because of that horrible week after Diana died. And then when Blair wrote his memoirs, he included a conversation he had had with William, which made him madder. And if they didn't invite Blair, they couldn't invite Brown. It makes sense to me. And it is William's wedding. I think he should be entitled to not invite Blair.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI've heard the "William detests Blair (with good reason) and Brown is collateral damage" explanation as well. I've also heard that Thatcher and Major were invited only because they're Knights of the Garter, which Blair and Brown aren't. Until today I haven't heard the Iraq War explanation and, frankly, I don't buy it.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy would Brown be excluded because of Iraq?
I mean, the equivalent in the Obama administration would be like blaming Geithner for Libya.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe Iraq War - and the morons who started it - has done more to demolish and bankrupt Western Civilization that all of the Middle Eastern brutes in history.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"but I really don’t care much about the wedding"
People are going to great lengths to trumpet their ambivalence about the royal wedding.
I hope Jonah is not so ambivalent about the bridesmaid's dresses that he has to post again on the topic.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTony Blair has the appearance and manner of a cheap con artist, and his policies did more to damage the social values and economy of Britain than any other politician's policies in generations. His approach to the laws and the constitution did more damage to them than that of any politician in at least a century, and they were understood to be part of his vision for a modern, progressive Britain.
Gordon Brown's personality is radically different but scarcely less annoying, and he both shared in Blair's policies and himself advocated versions of them at least as radical.
I wouldn't invite either one of them to his own a**-kicking.
I realize Americans like Blair in particular because of the war, but his right moves on Iraq and Afghanistan do not trump the damage he has done. And it is worth noting that his motives for these wars obviously sprang from more ideological, one-world progressive attitudes than Americans seem to find congenial. In practice, that meant roping Bush into a pointless and politically damaging attempt at a second UN resolution.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI seriously doubt the Iraq war was the issue here, anyway.
The reference to Thatcher and Major's status as Knights of the Garter is far and away the most likely explanation, given the nature of the event and the usual mindset of the court. And quite right too.
Major was also formally appointed a guardian to the princes after Diana's death, though I don't know what that meant in practice.
And if that isn't enough justification, William probably just figured he should't have to look at Blair's perennially unctuous smile or Brown's grim death mask on his wedding day.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTime will ultimately tell, but I accept the explanation regarding Mr. Blairs politicizing of Princess Diana's death as cause for exclusion. Ultimately we will know the truth by the efforts that William is willing to expend to protect his bride from the long knives of the Royal Family and Fleet Street. We will either find that he is a better man than his father, or we will find that he is just another prat.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSorry, Jonah, I'm not as jaded about this as you. Sure, the hype has been annoying. But also consider how many youth and tweens who will be watching (because of the hype) and will also see: 1) the celebration of a man marrying a woman; 2) the man and woman marrying before having children together (no shotgun or toddler attendants); 3) the actual inside of a house of worship, and a very fine one at that; 4) an actual religious service inside that house of worship with Bible readings, a homily (sermon), glorious religious music (no American Idol tunes)-- in short, all that fancy stuff outliers like us call "church." Will and Kate seem to be reasonably decent young people, not famous for being infamous. I'll be watching when I get home from work and I wish them well.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think it's time to reconsider that "hardcore Anglophile" thing, Jonah.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBritain is pretty irrelevant as a superpower (we're headed in the same direction unfortunately). You want Fairy Tales go to Disney World. It is slightly cheaper than a day in London; the food is better, the weather is better and Prince Charming and Cinderella are far more interesting characters than Wills and Kate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThanks Mr. Goldberg, but the surprise is???!!!
The toothless Brits represent what Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche predicted for all of Europe...a tremendous laugh; America has also turned into a society of feline candy as* pray at the altar of the state redistribute the wealth herd animals...just read some of the posts...an even better laugh!!!
GOOD GRIEF
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDidn't Prince Harry serve in the war? I guess his brother's a total baffoon like their father.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs a super power, Britain was irrelevant in 1956 when Ike told them to back down over Suez. As a cultural and historical power, Britain is unsurpassed. Sorry, but it is. But I teach British history and also am a certified Anglophile so I am biased.
I would have thought the right-thinking folks here would perhaps remember Burke, Peel, Disraeli, and Churchill for some inspiration beyond Thatcher.
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