Tony Blair's new book 'is like a love letter to George Bush'

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Mar 4, 2010
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By Daniel Martin


Last updated at 10:31 PM on 22nd August 2010

TONY BLAIR'S forthcoming memoirs will read like a 'love letter' to George W Bush, insiders claim.


The autobiography will praise the former U.S. president, with whom Mr Blair launched the controversial invasion of Iraq in 2003, as 'highly intelligent' and 'visionary'.
The former prime minister is wheeling out his wife Cherie and their four children to publicise the book, entitled A Journey, across the Atlantic.


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Friends: Blair was 'wowed by Bush's strength, courage and conviction and saw him as a highly intelligent and visionary friend'

They will appear at a glitzy awards ceremony in the U.S. at which Mr Blair, who led Britain into four wars, will receive a medal to celebrate his efforts towards peace.

It will be the first time the whole family have been seen together since he left office in 2007.

News of the publicity efforts comes as agreed to give the profits from his book – expected to be almost £5million – to the Royal British Legion simply to ensure it is not a flop.


There had been fears that many would refuse to buy the memoirs rather than line the pockets of a man they accuse of having started an illegal war.
Insiders who have seen drafts of the autobiography say it showers praise on Mr Bush as the only politician in the world with the 'courage and commitment' to take on Al Qaeda.
A source said: 'It is basically an extended love letter. Tony says he was wowed by Bush's strength, courage and conviction and saw him as a highly intelligent and visionary friend.
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'It's the biggest and most unapologetic defence of Bush and his ideas ever written.'
Mr Blair is expected to target his publicity at the U.S. market, doing only one book signing event in the UK and only one British interview, with the BBC's Andrew Marr.

Sales in the U.S. are crucial as it is estimated that publishers Random House will have to sell 500,000 copies worldwide – 200,000 more than Lady Thatcher's autobiography achieved – to break even.

A source close to the former prime minister said: 'Blair is trying for the senior statesman approach.'
One of the biggest events will be in Philadelphia where Mr Blair will be awarded the Liberty Medal, an American version of the Nobel Peace Prize, by Bill Clinton. Previous recipients include Mikhail Gorbachev and Nelson Mandela.

The ceremony, which will be televised across the country, will take place just as a U.S. book tour begins on September 13.

David Eisner, a former senior official in Mr Bush's administration who organises the awards, admitted there was no particular reason why Mr Blair was getting the prize this year, but said he was the 'strongest candidate'.
For the past three years Mr Blair has been trying to broker peace in the Middle East as the envoy representing the UN, EU, U.S. and Russia.


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The Blairs: Former PM hopes to use his family to shift copies of his autobiography on the other side of the Atlantic

The Royal British Legion found out about Mr Blair's donation of the profits from the book two weeks ago.
A spokesman said: 'We were under absolutely no illusion that the announcement would be controversial and questions about Tony Blair's motivation would arise.
'We didn't question his motives. We were told that Tony Blair had a desire to recognise the Armed Forces in a tangible way. We accept this helps him to sell his book.'

It has also emerged that the four police officers guarding Mr Blair's £4million home in West London are to be reduced to two to slash the £3million a year security bill.

source: Daily Mail
 
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