Pushing Europe in Crawford

All of tiny Crawford, Texas is abuzz in anticipation of British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to President George W. Bush’s ranch this weekend.

"Salute the British" t-shirts have been printed and, according to one newspaper report, are apparently selling well. The British flag has been raised atop the town flagpole, flying bravely next to the American standard.

Blair’s visit to Bush’s ranch – the second by a state leader following Vladimir Putin’s visit in November – will be special for at least one reason: it will mark the first time a head-of-state enjoys two nights at the American president’s palacial ranch.

European Union leaders hope he will use the extra night to do what Blair says his friendship with the American president allows him to do best: push the European view.

Though there are a number of burning issues which Europe would like America’s ear on, few are as pressing as the Middle East and Iraq. Aides have said the two topics will dominate the Blair-Bush mini-summit this weekend.

Blair treads lightly on Iraq

Europe has resoundly rejected any US military action in Iraq, with Great Britain so far the lone exception. But Blair has proceeded cautiously, promising troops but emphasizing in an interview Friday that there are no immediate plans for an invasion.

He has no other choice but to tread lightly. The prime minister is facing increasing pressure to show his voters he is not "America’s poodle," as his critics brand him. Recent polls show more than half of England against British cooperation in a US invasion of Iraq.

"This weekend's meeting between Tony Blair and George Bush is more than the usual Texan photo-opportunity. It is one of those rare modern summits which may decide the fates of nations and of peoples," the liberal Guardian wrote in a Saturday editorial.

US bows to international pressure in Israel

Of most immediate concern is the fate of the Palestinians and Israelis, whose 17-month conflict escalated violently this past week. With it grew international criticism of a Bush administration unwilling to stop Israeli incursion into West Bank cities.

The Vatican criticized Israel for imposing "unjust conditions and humiliations" on Palestinians. European leaders said US policy in the region had "failed" and announced they were launching their own peace initiative.

A day later, Bush responded by demanding Israel pull out of its West Bank occupation. He also expressed his disappointment with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and demanded he do more to prevent "terrorist activities."

The remarks were welcomed by European leaders. Israel, on the other hand, has showed no signs of withdrawing. Fighting between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian gunmen was intense in the West Bank town of Jenin Saturday, with many casualities reported on the Palestinian side.

US officials responded to the continued occupation by saying they understood everything couldn’t happen overnight. In a positive step, US special envoy for the region, Anthony Zinni, met with Arafat on Friday in his besieged Ramallah compound.

But European leaders and their voters will expect Bush to keep on Israel until Sharon pulls the IDF out of the occupied West Bank cities. More than 2,500 people demonstrated in Bonn and Dortmund against Israeli occupation on Saturday.

Before boarding the plane to Texas on Friday, Blair told reporters both he and Bush understood the burden.

"We understand that we’ve got an obligation to do everything we possibly can to stop the terrible, dreadful violence that is happening in the Middle East at this moment," he said.

They will have two nights to make some headway.