The real special relationship: two statesmen speaking!

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | 'Yo, Blair, how are you doing?' - overheard chat reveals the real special relationship
'Yo, Blair, how are you doing?' - overheard chat reveals the real special relationship

During a quiet moment at the G8 summit yesterday, Tony Blair and George Bush swapped candid views on the Middle East. Only after several minutes did Mr Blair realise that a microphone had been left on

Tuesday July 18, 2006
The Guardian

Bush Yo, Blair. How are you doing?
Blair I'm just...

Bush You're leaving?

Blair No, no, no not yet. On this trade thingy ...[inaudible]

Bush Yeah, I told that to the man.

Blair Are you planning to say that here or not?

Bush If you want me to.

Blair Well, it's just that if the discussion arises ...

Bush I just want some movement.

Blair Yeah.

Bush Yesterday we didn't see much movement.

Blair No, no, it may be that it's not, it may be that it's impossible.
Bush I am prepared to say it.
Blair But it's just I think what we need to be an opposition...

Bush Who is introducing the trade?

Blair Angela [Merkel, the German chancellor].

Bush Tell her to call 'em.

Blair Yes.

Bush Tell her to put him on, them on the spot. Thanks for [inaudible] it's awfully thoughtful of you.

Blair It's a pleasure.

Bush I know you picked it out yourself.

Blair Oh, absolutely, in fact [inaudible].

Bush What about Kofi? [inaudible] His attitude to ceasefire and everything else ... happens.

Blair Yeah, no I think the [inaudible] is really difficult. We can't stop this unless you get this international business agreed.

Bush Yeah.

Blair I don't know what you guys have talked about, but as I say I am perfectly happy to try and see what the lie of the land is, but you need that done quickly because otherwise it will spiral.

Bush I think Condi is going to go pretty soon.

Blair But that's, that's, that's all that matters. But if you ... you see it will take some time to get that together.

Bush Yeah, yeah.

Blair But at least it gives people ...

Bush It's a process, I agree. I told her your offer to ...

Blair Well ... it's only if I mean ... you know. If she's got a ... or if she needs the ground prepared as it were ... Because obviously if she goes out, she's got to succeed, if it were, whereas I can go out and just talk.

Bush You see, the ... thing is what they need to do is to get Syria, to get Hizbullah to stop doing this shit and it's over.

Blair Syria.

Bush Why?

Blair Because I think this is all part of the same thing.

Bush Yeah.

Blair What does he think? He thinks if Lebanon turns out fine, if we get a solution in Israel and Palestine, Iraq goes in the right way ...

Bush Yeah, yeah, he is sweet.

Blair He is honey. And that's what the whole thing is about. It's the same with Iraq.

Bush I felt like telling Kofi to call, to get on the phone to Assad and make something happen.

Blair Yeah.

Bush We are not blaming the Lebanese government.

Blair Is this...? (at this point Blair taps the microphone in front of him and the sound is cut.)