The view from across the pond

Richard Perle, neo-con policy intellectual, sends in his thoughts on Blair and British ingratitude:

I’m sorry to see him go as I was sorry to see the departures of Thatcher and Reagan before him.  Conviction politicians, all.  It may be a while before you get another–they’re rare on both sides of the Atlantic. Its ironic that Blair stands (falsely) charged with misleading when, in fact, he led with strength and purpose.  It is even more ironic that he should be derided as Bush’s poodle when, in fact, he led Bush more often than he was led by him.  You Brits have a remarkable habit of political ingratitude that transcends class and party. Churchill saved the nation, Thatcher brought it into the modern world, Blair salvaged the Labour Party–and you have left it to the Americans to say “Thanks, well done.”