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His Greatest Gamble
Saturday, November 3, 2001
By Andrew Rawnsley -- The Observer

Tony Blair is staking massive amounts of his reputation on a conflict over which he has limited control

Of all the voices joining the mounting chorus of sincere opposition, honest doubt and calculating criticism, perhaps the most bizarre assault on Tony Blair has come from the Leader of the Opposition.

There are many accusations that may be laid before the Prime Minister - and they are charges that he will have a torrid time answering if the conflict in Afghanistan has a horrible outcome - but the attack that rings most hollow is Iain Duncan Smith's suggestion that Mr Blair has been insufficiently energetic in building support for the military action.

It is not terrifically well-judged for the unpopular leader of a party which has recently suffered an unprecedented second landslide defeat to chastise anyone else for failing to win 'hearts and minds'.

And the one charge that cannot be stuck on Mr Blair is lack of application. At home, he has devoted himself to this crisis to the exclusion of almost everything else, much to the concern of Ministers who fear that the Government will lose focus on the areas where it will be ultimately judged by the electorate.
(More: Observer.co.UK News Source)
2001 © Guardian Unlimited / Guardian Newspapers Limited.

Dan