Tony Blair claims to oppose the death penalty in all cases. So why did his government block Italy's efforts to unite the EU in support of a global ban on the death penalty (something mandated by their joint membership in the ECHR anyway)?
Three words: George W. Bush:
British diplomats said privately that they did not wish to create difficulties for the United States at a delicate time and they did not believe it was possible to do it now.
Once upon a time, the UK felt it could differ, and differ vigorously, with the United States on issues such as this. Now they are nothing but toadies, willing to sacrifice even a fundamental piece of British human rights policy to avoid angering the man in the White House. As for Blair, it is quite clear that there is nothing he will not sacrifice for Bush, and no ideal he will not betray in order to help his American friends. Which doesn't bode well for his expected legacy deal on climate change...
Yes i am sure that a global ban on the death penalty is realistic. I guess Blair is in fact being pragmatic. I can especially imagine how the likes of China, Iran and North Korea will embrace such a policy.
ReplyDeleteWhether you like it or not, teh UNited States is a democratic country and the death penalty is legal under its constitution. Unless there is a groundswell of support for an amendment to the constitution then the death penalty will remain.
I guess you will think that democracy sucks in that instance
Anon: I accept it will be difficult. I don't accept that that means countries should just shrug their shoulders and give up. And in pragmatic terms, Blair's desire to protect Bush has meant that there will be less pressure applied to those countries that are more immediately persuadable. And he's against the death penalty, he says?
ReplyDeleteSure, the US is a democracy. That doesn't mean they can't be wrong (I think their whole approach toIraq and the "war on terror" is proof enough of that). Obviously they will have to be persuaded to sign up to any ban. Unlike you, though, I don't think that the mere fact that someone disagrees is an excuse not to try.
The best friend you can have is one who will stand up and tell you straight that what you are doing is wrong.
ReplyDeleteBush is not Blair's friend, he is the bully in the relationship. Blair is afraid of him.