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Source: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=1419972004
Middle East Gatecrasher
(Scotland on Sunday) Fraser Nelson - The tectonic plates under the Middle East are finally moving: Arafat is dead, Sharon is extending an olive branch to Palestinians, and Egypt is urging them to seize it. All this has happened no thanks to Britain. With a UK election due in May next year, Blair rather desperately needs something good to show voters. So, in talks in Washington last month, Bush agreed to let Blair take some of the credit for anything that happens in the Middle East. Britain can plan all it likes but its influence in the area has waned to almost zero. There are plans for a peace conference in London - one big photo opportunity. White House officials already dismiss this as a "publicity stunt" which will be "harmless" at best.