Airstrip One

Op-Ed Diplomacy - 3rd February 2003, 23.25

With the Blair-Chirac meeting tomorrow, William Safire, writing in the International Herald Tribune, reflects upon the role of journalism in sparking off the letter that the eight European leaders signed last week. A rare alliance of the harlot and the politician.

As a consequence, the summit tomorrow between Blair and Chirac is expected to be tense. Given Blair's wish to maintain his European agenda, he may concede certain issues to keep the French onside in the Convention.