Apologies for raising a point I’ve made elsewhere, but I’m rather pleased with it and an historian friend of mine has added a point that she wants recording.
Our dear leader told us
I decided we should stand shoulder to shoulder with our oldest ally. I did so out of belief.
I thought he must, if he meant anything, mean by this Portugal, and I’m pleased to have my recollection of O level history confirmed by ‘Guano’ that
England signed a treaty with Portugal in 1473, I believe, 19 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue
Ever determined to seek further and better particulars, I asked a diplomatic historian friend of mine whether Portugal’s neutrality in WW2 counted against her. Apparently not, since it wasn’t a mutual defence treaty, and, according to her,
Someone (in a spirit of accuracy) should point out that a) we have never been at war with Portugal and b) we have several times been at war with the USA!!!
grrrrrrrr
But, in fairness to the departing Prime Minister, I’m sure, at the time, he honestly believed what he was saying.
Not Saussure 
I believe he would always pass a lie detector test. I once worked with a very similar personality, who could always convince himself of the truth of a lie before he told it.
It’s the gift that, as Blair demonstrates here, keeps on giving.
Comment by Tom Paine — May 12, 2007 @ 7:27 pm
I think what he meant to say was our ally since 1917 when the US came in late to the First World War, and then turned up late again for the party in 1939-45.
Comment by jailhouselawyer — May 12, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
[…] Britain’s oldest ally Yet another example of Blair’s lack of historical knowledge… (tags: Britain Portugal) […]
Pingback by Nosemonkey / Europhobia » links for 2007-05-13 — May 13, 2007 @ 7:23 am
Yes, Tim Worstall is our representative over there, I believe.
Comment by jameshigham — May 13, 2007 @ 7:56 am