Blair was exactly what Bush needed

to sell his fraudulent and immoral

war in Iraq to the American public:

a seemingly reasonable and

non-partisan stamp of international approval

After all, he'd been bosom buddies

with Bill Clinton, hadn't he?

Even more detested in Britain

than his mentor Margaret Thatcher

— officially the most hated

prime minister in recent history —

opinion polls record that his legacy

is one soaked in the blood of

the preemptive war and occupation of Iraq

With Blair putting a date-specific on his slow-bleed resignation, we can expect the floodgates to open on stories analyzing his ten year run as prime minister and the impact he had on America.

"Hand on heart," he said in announcing he will leave office at the end of June, "I did what I thought was right.

"I may have been wrong. That's your call. But believe one thing: I did what I thought was right for our country."

Maybe so, but his hand-on-heartfelt convictions had dire consequences for U.S. foreign policy.

Blair was exactly what Bush needed to sell his fraudulent and immoral war in Iraq to the American public: a seemingly reasonable and non-partisan stamp of international approval (after all, he'd been bosom buddies with Bill Clinton, hadn't he?).

Blair enabled the Bush myth that the invasion of Iraq was a coalition effort, that it wasn't just Mongolia, Moldova, Singapore, Poland, and Tonga making up the Coalition of the Willing to Go Along. It was Britain. Great Britain.

More than being just Bush and Cheney's cheery wingman, Blair was one of their top salesmen, pitching sexed up dossiers, Nigeran yellowcake, and the specter of chemical weapons "ready within 45 minutes" raining down on Europe.

Although Blair was far from the only enabler to Bush's Iraq fantasies -- spineless Congressional Democrats and a wildly compliant press certainly did their part -- the impact of his unwavering support was enormous.

Iraq is Bush's war, but Tony Blair's legacy will be forever tainted by the part of it he claimed for his own. Arianna Huffington

Darling of the right wing

Even more detested in Britain than his mentor Margaret Thatcher — officially the most hated prime minister in recent history — opinion polls record that his legacy is one soaked in the blood of the preemptive war and occupation of Iraq.

Some 50 percent of the population believe it is for this ignominious reason that Blair will find his place in the history books. The next highest numbers believe it will be due to his alliance with President George W. Bush.

Blair leaves office as an unindicted war criminal and the first sitting prime minister in history to be interviewed as part of a police investigation (the “cash for honours” scandal).

It is no coincidence that Lord Levy had earlier announced that he would stand down as the prime minister’s special Middle East envoy.

In his capacity as Blair’s chief fundraiser, Levy has been arrested and questioned under caution by police investigating the alleged sale of peerages in return for party loans.

The prime minister has reportedly been planning his retirement for some time in discussions with the likes of Rupert Murdoch and the then-chief executive of British Petroleum, Lord Browne.

It has been suggested that out of concern that he not be seen to be cashing in too quickly, his first project will be to establish a global foundation to foster “greater understanding” between the three “Abrahamic faiths” of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

This is an obscene conceit in itself, considering his role in the Middle East. But no doubt Blair will once again be able to utilise his skills in soliciting donations from rich benefactors.

His real money-making venture is expected to be speaking tours of the United States.

Estimates as to what he can expect to earn in his first year out of office range between a conservative £5 million and £10 million, and a book deal is estimated to be worth between £5 million and £8 million.

There is no question that Blair will be feted in right-wing circles, especially in the US.

This is first of all for his record of unbridled militarism in alliance with Washington.

He is also valued in these circles because, just as in the US, his “war on terror” rhetoric has been used to justify the most antidemocratic and authoritarian measures.

Just as importantly, his reputation has been built on the huge transfer of wealth from working people to the global financial corporations and the super-rich that he helped engineer in the UK. World Socialist