Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, is re-emerging as a possible choice to be the European Union's first full-time president after four momentous crises reinforced the argument for having a high-profile international personality in the job.In one sense, the discussions are premature. The full-time president will take office next year only if the EU's Lisbon institutional reform treaty, which creates the position, is ratified by all member-states - notably, Ireland, which is expected to hold a second referendum on the treaty between September and December.But the sheer scale of the challenges facing the EU - from last August's Russia-Georgia war and the global financial meltdown to the Gaza conflict and the shutdown of Russian gas deliveries to Europe - is redefining the debate.Whereas last year Germany and other countries looked favourably on candidates such as Jean-Claude Juncker, the long-serving prime minister of Luxembourg, more policymakers now feel the EU presidency demands an occupant from a much bigger member-state.
In one sense, the discussions are premature. The full-time president will take office next year only if the EU's Lisbon institutional reform treaty, which creates the position, is ratified by all member-states - notably, Ireland, which is expected to hold a second referendum on the treaty between September and December.
But the sheer scale of the challenges facing the EU - from last August's Russia-Georgia war and the global financial meltdown to the Gaza conflict and the shutdown of Russian gas deliveries to Europe - is redefining the debate.
Whereas last year Germany and other countries looked favourably on candidates such as Jean-Claude Juncker, the long-serving prime minister of Luxembourg, more policymakers now feel the EU presidency demands an occupant from a much bigger member-state.
It's all about fame. Blair is high-profile because he is famous. That he got famous in screwing things up, and indeed in setting-up both the crisis and the political deadlock while fixing data to become Bush puppy-in-chief is irrelevant, it's all about fame fame fame.
Keynes, were he alive today, would not be high-profile by this yardstick. Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed. Gandhi
