Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s memoir A Journey: My Political Life hits bookstores today, and Blair has a big profile in today’s Style section of the Washington Post. The book includes many fascinating anecdotes about former President George W. Bush, but one stands out. The scene is Bush’s first G-8 meeting in Genoa in 2001, where he has just been lectured by the prime minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, on America’s responsibilities to combat global warming:
George had arrived bang on time for this first discussion and had not fully said hello to all the participants. He didn’t know or recognize Guy, whose advice he listened to with considerable astonishment.
He turned to me and whispered, “Who is this guy?”
“He’s the prime minister of Belgium,” I said.
“Belgium?” George said, clearly aghast at the possible full extent of his stupidity. “Belgium’s not part of the G8.”
“No,” I said, “but he is the president of Europe.”
“You got Belgians running Europe?” He shook his head, now aghast at our stupidity.
Miss him yet?
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