The Special Relationship Page #8

Milosevic is looking like a hero,

because he stood up to western

aggression and we look like fools.

We're losing the p. r.

Campaign, tony, big time.

Unless nato is prepared

to step up the bombing

and commit to ground troops,

we could lose this thing.

Nato will never commit,

not without clinton.

I know you're committed to

intensifying the air campaign,

but I'm here to ask you

to also commit to a ground

invasion into kosovo

to resolve this situation

once and for all.

Unless we do so

I am of the firm opinion

that milosevic will

persist in believing

that nato will lack the will

to finish what it's started.

Strategically, we have two options:

The first, a limited

invasion of 80,000 troops

that will drive serb

forces out of kosovo

and create safe havens

for refugees to return;

Secondly, a general

invasion of serbia itself

with 200,000 troops,

inging about the total overthrow

of the milosevic regime.

And actually,

we'd favor the former...

A smaller invasion,

the air units parachuted into-

- howard.

If we do what you're suggesting,

people will interpret it

as an admission on our part

of the failure of our

air campaign,

so politically it's a

non-starter right there.

Also, the minute you

put our troops

into milosevic's territory,

you're fighting on his

terms in his backyard,

handing him a huge advantage.

With the bombing we keep

our distance,

limit the risk, yet still

maintain our advantage.

But the bombing's not working.

We all know that.

Plus, even in your

limited-invasion scenario

we'd have to call up reservists

for a conflict in a place most

americans don't know exists.

I really don't understand

your hesitancy.

We are staring a wholesale

human catastrophe in the face.

Are you going to send over as

many troops as you expect us to?

Well, that's not possible.

As you well know,

given the relative size

of our armies, our resources.

We get the point, prime minister.

You're ready to fight

to the last american.

We have to win this.

I've made a promise.

Politically, I've really

stuck my neck out here.

Why don't we step

outside for a moment?

The two of us.

Let me get this straight.

You want me to spend

billions of dollars

of american taxpayer money

and lose american lives?

This is a battle

between good and evil,

between civilization and barbarity.

The intervention and removal

ourechristiantors responsibility.

"christian responsibility"?

You know, for a

center-left democrat

you're beginning to sound an

awful lot like jerry falwell.

And what about the repercussions?

Civilian casualties

from a ground campaign

could be even greater than those

caused by errant bombs without,

in my estimation, enhancing

our prospects for victory.

Nothing could have more

serious consequences

- than being defeated in kosovo.

- Losing is not an option.

I am committed to winning

this thing

and I will do whatever it takes

to make sure that happens.

Now if you want to talk about

sending in ground troops

at some future date, fine.

But we keep it between ourselves...

Off the record.

Now, on the record,

here's what I'm saying,

so listen up:

Nato won't go for ground troops

and neither will I.

Well, of course they don't care.

Half of them don't know

where bloody yugoslavia is.

- this could be the end of me.

- Come on.

No, I'm serious, alastair.

I'm completely out on a limb here.

If we don't win this thing, I'm the

one who's gonna have to answer for it.

Why not take clinton up on his

offer to start quietly working

on a ground invasion

as an interim measure?

Because I don't believe him.

He's lied to everybody else,

why should he be

telling me the truth?

No. no. bollocks to that.

It's the chicago

speech tomorrow, right?

- yeah. - right. well, I want

you to beef it up a bit.

I want us to put his back

right up against the wal

hang on a minute, tony. are you sure

this is what you want to be doing?

This could really backfire on us.

And I want every right-wing

hack with an axe to grind

about the moral bankruptcy

of this administration

to be there to hear it-

front row seats.

No one who has seen what is

happening in kosovo

can doubt that nato's military

action is justified,

and that military action

will continue...

...until milosevic is

defeated absolutely.

Success is the only exit strategy

I am prepared to consider.

We are witnessing the beginnings

of a new doctrine of

international community...

many nations working hand in hand,

cooperating on issues

that conont us all.

You are the most powerful

country in the world.

It must be difficult and

occasionally irritating

to be the recipient

of every demand,

to be called upon in every crisis.

The cry "what's it

got to do with us?"

must be regularly heard on

the lips of your people.

Yet the nations with

the greatest power

have the greatest responsibility.

We need you engaged.

I say to you:

Never fall again

for the dorine of isolationism.

The world cannot afford it.

And realize that in britain

you have a friend that

will stand with you

and fashion with you

the design for a future built

on peace and prosperity for all,

which is the only dream

that makes humanity

worth preserving.

Too slow.

Only me.

"all hail king tony,

" "chicago tribune. "

"why don't we have a president like

tony blair? " "the new york times. "

"blair shows courage while

white house vacillates,"

"washington post. "

"listening to the british

prime minister

in chicago last night,

one couldn't help thinking

how much president

clinton could learn

from his churchillian

younger colleague.

Both these men talk the talk.

The difference is,

behind closed doors,

blair actually walks it too. "

"wall street journal. "

wow. you must've been up

all night writing those.

In terms of public approval,

you're the number-one leader

in the world right now.

leaders of the nato powers

convened in washington today

to debate the worsening

situation in kosovo.

...speculation as to the

determination of nato

to stay the course,

with some members suggesting

they might be having

second thoughts.

... the celebration of

nato's 50th birthday

but it is expected to be totally given

over to discussions on kosovo.

Give the prime minister

and me a moment, will you?

Yes, sir.

- who would've guessed?

- What?

What a tough little son of a

b*tch you turned out to be,

stabbing me in the back

in my own front yard.

- now that takes balls.

- My head was on a block.

- you gave me no choice.

- Well, the way I see it,

your head's still on the block

- and I still have a choice.

- That's not what your papers suggest.

Oh, that's right... your new friends.

"all hail king tony. "

so ground troops? are you in?

Maybe you ought to ask

yourself this question:

What kind of a king begs

others to do his fighting for him?

Well, if we act now,

we can end the fighting.

with its pledge to

do whatever it takes

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