Blair's Middle Eastern "Swan Song": Modest but Determined Legend has it that the swan, a beautiful but difficult creature, mute throughout its life, sings a beautiful song before it dies. Some British newspapers, most notably The Guardian, have not been able to resist the 'Swan Song' metaphor in their descriptions of Tony Blair's waning moments (or months) as British Prime Minister and as Britain's ambassador to the world. After what is being accurately called a mutiny in the British Labor Party, Blair has finally sent signals that he will step down as Prime Minister within one year -- but even his most ardent supporters project that he will be gone within months. So it is against this backdrop of dissent and ill will at home that the lame duck British PM is making his last (?) visit to the war torn middle east; Israel and Palestine on Sunday and Lebanon on Monday. No need to ask "why bother;" its obvious that Blair feels, or at least hopes, that he can make a positive contribution to reducing the tension between Israel and its two contentious neighbors. Realistic as always, however, Blair left London with the warning that there would be no “grand announcement” of progress as a result of his visit. So far he's proven that his modest assessment of progress was right on. After meeting with Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, Olmert announced that he has plans to meet with and work with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president . . . but he stressed that securing the release of Gilad Shalit, the abducted Israeli soldier, was his first priority. Abbas, after meeting with Blair, also agreed to a meeting with Olmert "without pre-conditions" . . . but in a later statement Abbas' told reporters that his priority is going to Gaza and starting "urgent talks on forming a national unity government" These are pretty clear signals that the meeting between Olmert and Abbas may not be soon and, in true middle east fashion, if not soon, maybe not at all. Links to this story: Blair to Brown: I won't do what you demand Blair in the Middle East, Seeking to Bolster a Peace Accord Blogger News Network