Robin Oakley
Robin Oakley
Robin Oakley, OBEin Kidderminster, Worcestershire is a British journalist. He was European Political Editor at CNN International. Prior to CNN, he was Political Editor at the BBC...
again believe destroy french presidency standing vote
If the French vote 'no,' most analysts believe it would destroy any possibility of Chirac standing again for the presidency in 2007,
alienated change french gained pen people running seem temporary
He did not say how people are going to change the technocrats who seem to be running French politics, who have alienated the people and who have gained Le Pen his temporary success.
full nato
We are not going to see a full NATO operation,
attempt belfast blair bush easily fact george gives listens location mark meet outside political respect seriously sign sort states takes tony united voyage
The fact that George Bush has come to Belfast to meet Tony Blair in this location ... is in a sense a mark of respect for Tony Blair, an attempt to show outside world -- because George Bush doesn't voyage outside the United States all that easily -- it's a sign that he takes him seriously and listens to his advice. It gives him some sort of political payback,
against blair deal difficult far government incredibly ministers prime public refusing situations
These situations are always incredibly difficult for prime ministers and government, but so far there's been no public outcry against Blair for refusing to deal with terrorists,
remotely scale
are not remotely on the same scale as the U.S..
charm charming incredible offensive starting
incredible charm offensive ... (which) is starting to show dividends.
belfast branch colombia defensive intensive involved ira members offices rebels special time
But it comes at a time when the IRA is under intensive pressure. It has been put on the defensive over the arrests in Colombia of IRA members working with FARC rebels and there are allegations it was involved in a burglary of Special Branch offices in Belfast in March,
army army-and-navy british deep dominated effect image iraqi worry
It has dominated the media, ... There is deep worry about the image of the British army and deep worry about the effect on Iraqi elections.
british hopeful irish remain rub stardust
The British and Irish remain hopeful all the same that some of the presidential stardust will rub off.
key nato possibly
It's also the key to possibly getting NATO involved.
although blair continue matters public questions raise tony
It would be interesting to know how much Tony Blair will raise those questions in private, although in public he will continue to say that such matters are for commanders on the ground,
certainly chancellor german leaders leaders-and-leadership polish president summit turn
There's a lot of breast thumping as leaders take up their negotiation positions, and certainly Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder have indicated that this summit could turn into a real standoff,
both british government iraqi regime second suffering talking
They are now talking much more about the suffering of the Iraqi people. The British government used to say nothing of regime change, ... both (leaders) need a second U.N. resolution.