The Telegraph looks at Mr Tony Blair's new book, A Journey In his new book, A Journey, Mr Blair writes that the former US president was confused by the presence of Guy Verhofstadt at the 2001 G8 summit in Genoa.If there is any stupidity in the episode, the only one it does not reside in is President Bush.
“He didn’t know or recognise Guy, whose advice he listened to with considerable astonishment,” Mr Blair writes. “He then turned to me and whispered, ‘Who is this guy?’ ‘He is the prime minister of Belgium,’ I said.
“Belgium? George said, clearly aghast at the possible full extent of his stupidity. ‘Belgium is not part of the G8’.”
Mr Blair explained to Mr Bush that Mr Verhofstadt was there as “president of Europe”. Belgium held the presidency of the EU council at the time.
Mr Bush responded: “You got the Belgians running Europe?” before shaking his head, “now aghast at our stupidity”, Mr Blair writes.
Update: "Atrociously written."
1 comment:
"Wait, Belgium's in Europe?", I asked incredulously, appalled at the possible extent of my geographical ignorance, "I thought the Germans paved it over and built a schnitzel stand on top, so it would be more convenient next time they came through!"
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