Bush fails to back Blair

[Chris Burford]

In his public statements today Blair was desperate to emphasise the middle 
east peace "road map". Although promised to be published when the new 
Palestinian PM, Mahmoud Abbas, was appointed, we were now told emphatically 
it would be announced when the new Palestinian cabinet is announced.

Bush did not bother to make any reference to it at all at his conference today.

The other big question is that Blair wants an international framework for 
the administration of Iraq after hegemonic victory, and Bush backs US 
administration.

More gaps for Blair to finesse.

Chris Burford
London