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WASHINGTON - Even while performing God's work, Tony Blair managed to rain on Gordon Brown's parade yesterday.
Invited to lead the prestigious United States National Prayer Breakfast, a spectacular event in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton Hotel, Blair enjoyed the company of President Barack Obama - before any European leader has had the privilege.
The former British Prime Minister dashed ahead of his successor and other European political heavyweights, including Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and Vladimir Putin, to lay on the hands and tell the President: "It is fitting at this extraordinary moment in your country's history that we hear that call to action; and we pray that in acting we do God's work and follow God's will."
During Blair's 10 years as Prime Minister, his chief spin doctor Alastair Campbell famously answered any religious questions with the retort: "We don't do God."
But free from the shackles of leadership, Blair embraced his faith and even ended his speech with "God bless you all".
At yesterday's breakfast, Blair, who championed a war in Iraq that many religious leaders condemned as immoral, proclaimed himself a supporter of Obama. "It is an honour to be here, a particular honour to be with you Mr President." Blair said.
While Blair was plotting strategy for invading Iraq, Obama, then a political unknown, went out on a limb to condemn plans for the war.
- INDEPENDENT
