A different view

Flying Coach

Well, maybe not coach. There's a news story about British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family flying into Miami on a British Airways 747.

To me, the real story is that Blair was flying commercial to the US. It's not like Parliament can't afford a private plane for Blair. I'm sure there are plenty of British CEOs and citizens that own their own plane.

I understand that many US administration and military senior employess used to fly commercial. According to reports they quit just a couple of weeks before 9/11. They moved to charter flights, I don't know if they've gone back to commercial.

But can you imagine Bush or Cheney flying United? Why is it Tony Blair, a partner in the globally despised Iraq fiasco, the leader of a powerful country like Britain, feels safe flying coach? No private plane, no cargo of armored cars, no legions of Secret Service personnel.

I suppose the Queen doesn't fly commercial. Maybe Prince Charles. But not the decider of their country.

Why is it the US president needs so much protection? Are we paranoid, or has the president of one country become so hated that he's a constant target?

Wouldn't it have been ironic is Blair had perished in Miami, the home of the government that may have ruined his party. And supposedly his best friend.

posted by don1one @ 8:59 AM