Tony Blair is demoting British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to serve as Leader of Parliament’s Lower House. Margaret Becket, who has been serving as Secretary of State for the Environment, will succeed Straw.
Straw is taking the same path of the late Robin Cook when he was demoted from the Foreign Secretary portfolio.
Straw has adamently opposed a strike against Iran, under current conditions, and has stated forcefully that it would be an “illegal act.” Blair seems to want to keep his Iran attack options open.
On the DC front, Porter Goss has resigned. It will be interesting to see if this rumor that has been milling about that Goss’s name was among those of several House members, including the indicted Duke Cunningham, involved in a Watergate Hotel prostitution ring.
Still north of Lisbon on Portugal’s coast here — but the big news is still reaching us.
More later.
— Steve Clemons
53 comments on “Breaking News in London and D.C.”