More on BAE and Tony Blair

Previous related posts:

Probe says Saudi Prince Received Secret Payments

Blair Dismisses New Investigation of Bribery Claims

BAE Faces U.S. Criminal Inquiry

A new article: BBC - Blair 'fears' on Saudi arms probe

Tony Blair raised fears about an investigation into a Saudi arms deal days before it was dropped last year, a newly-disclosed document has shown.

The then PM had said the decision to stop the probe into the BAE deal was taken because of national security and was not linked to commercial interests.

But in a letter released during a legal case, Mr Blair refers to "concern" over ongoing business negotiations.

Downing Street has refused to comment on the letter to his attorney general.

The letter from Mr Blair to Lord Goldsmith dated 8 December 2006 was released to the High Court during a case brought by two pressure groups who are challenging the legality of the decision to end investigations into BAE Systems' dealings with Saudi Arabia.

It refers "critical difficulties" that might have affected the major contract for new military aircraft

Blair as EU President?

Financial Times - Push for Blair as new EU president

Tony Blair, the British prime minister, could end up swapping Downing Street for a job as the first full-time European Union president, under a plan being actively touted by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.

Mr Sarkozy is understood to have discussed the idea with other EU leaders ahead of next week’s European summit, Mr Blair’s last major international event as prime minister.

Mr Blair’s aides admit that Mr Sarkozy and other EU leaders have suggested the idea, but Downing Street insisted that Mr Blair was standing down from frontline politics on June 27. He has denied interest in the job.

An FT/Harris opinion poll, out on Monday, suggests Mr Blair remains a divisive figure, with 64 per cent of Germans, 60 per cent of Britons and 53 per cent of French respondents saying he would not be good for the job.

Blair Dismisses New Investigation of Bribery Claims

Telegraph - Blair: No new BAE probe despite bribe claims

Tony Blair has dismissed calls to reopen an investigation into a 1980s arms deal as new allegations surfaced that £1 billion in secret "sweetener" payments were made to a Saudi Prince.

Here is a post from yesterday about what’s happening.

Blair Supports Gordon Brown

Reuters - Blair endorses Brown as Britain's next leader

Tony Blair endorsed long-standing finance minister Gordon Brown as Britain's next leader on Tuesday and said he would announce next week when he was stepping aside as prime minister.

My previous posts on Brown:

Brown Wants New World Order

New World Order