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Tony Blair is a tireless campaigner and an eloquent orator. He is on a mission to familiar West Asia. This time for his mentor George W Bush whose part-time foreign secretary he volunteered to be. But his brilliance is wearing thin and dull.
   Distrusted by many in his own party and public at home, he has little respect in the Arab West Asia region. How much credibility if any he commands? Yet, tirelessly repeating those tired phrases like terrorism must be defeated, democracy must win, Palestine issue is paramount for peace, Tony Blair is not taken seriously though given polite audience by his hosts in secure and luxurious palaces. The cafes and streets, the popular media, the university campuses are not impressed or attentive.
   The sudden bursts of diplomatic forays keep him away from domestic anxiety and is good for his frayed nerves. But these do little to solve problems in Palestine or Lebanon. In fact, Britain with the US and the EU are not anywhere near the solution but are a part of the problem. By inciting one faction or the other, by naked interference they perpetuate division and delay democracy and durable peace in that troubled region much to the dismay of popular aspirations in the region that has long been a playground for the West.
   The West is loudly determined to bring democracy. But when it punishes the Palestinians for electing Hamas in free and fair elections, did and does everything to crush Hamas led government; punished the people for exercising their democratic rights., the West discredits all those declared intentions. Such are the champions of democracy in the region! Such are the narcissists who are so full of themselves they fail to see their own image in the mirror. And Tony Blair is not to be left behind or uncounted among the stalwarts. Blair does not seem to realise how much he is disliked and how futile are his assertions as a peacemaker. Pity, his efforts neither oblige or gratify his mentor in Washington nor his arrogant client in Jerusalem.
   With his characteristic audacity mixed with mendacity (a rare mix in these mundane time of mediocrity), Tony Blair volubly backs Mahmoud Abbas’s call for fresh elections — an act with no legal or constitutional validity. He wakes up as if from a slumber to say the Palestine-Israeli issue is the most important one for peace in the region and the world at large. A profound discovery indeed.
   Indeed, Britain has a historical wrong to correct having robbed the Palestinians of their land and homes while holding the mandate over erstwhile Palestine. Britain partitioned Palestine and orchestrated the creation of Israel. As if that was not enough, Britain turned a blind eye when Israeli intransigence was clearly violating the will of the international community. Britain with the US had been the major architects of the obscene ‘peace process’ that in effect allowed that process to drag on and on while Israel was allowed to pursue the creation of Greater Israel by theft of Palestinian lands, occupation of their territory, and erection of the ‘apartheid’ wall — all in clear and blatant violation of law and agreements. With that infamous record, none other than a rank hypocrite or one suffering from a delusion of lost imperial sway over erstwhile colonies, would have undertaken a journey to the region as a peace ‘messiah’. But Tony Blair did exactly that. Who is mesmerised or fooled? It is a pity the likes of Abbas are short-sighted unable to read history; or are they resigned to subordination or beggary seeking mercy and gifts from their beguiling ‘honest brokers’?
   Other than a few, everyone sees through the perfidy when Blair backs Abbas’s call for premature elections. No one other than a retarded or political moron will fail to see through the duplicity in Bush, Blair and the European Union when they choose to remain blissfully indifferent to the oppression of Palestinians but wake up punish the democratically elected
   Hamas and the people who exercised their democratic rights. That duplicity is made stark when they support Signora government in Lebanon for they love democracy even after it performed dismally in the wake of war imposed upon it by Israel. The call for national unity government in Lebanon is spurned. Why?
   Apparently, what is sauce for the goose is not the sauce for the gander. A national unity government in Palestine is good (for the West) but the same is sacrilege for Lebanon. Who the West is working for and protecting in both cases?
   All evidence in the past confirms the West has been held a prisoner to the interests and ambitions of Israel- a wiling prisoner indeed. But does the west have the courage to admit or recover the will to pursue its own long term interest in the region?
   Mr. Tony Blair (a lame duck prime minister) may make the rounds of Cairo, Istanbul, and Jerusalem. But he does not impress nor does he cover himself with glory.
   Tireless fighter Tony deserves rest. Unfortunately, his mentor in Washington also reputed as a tireless crusader, finds his hands full and groping to find a strategic exit from Iraq. He has no time for West Asia though he is not the one to admit it. But for the tireless yet tired Tony, a holiday in the French Riviera might have been more appropriate and well deserved.
   Husain
   Dhaka

Regarding the time for holding election of members of Parliament, Bangladesh Constitution provides detail guidelines. Article 123(3) of the Constitution states: ‘A general election of members of Parliament shall be held within ninety days after Parliament is dissolved, whether by reason of the expiration of its term or otherwise than by reason of such expiration.’ It means that the Election Commission is constitutionally bound to hold elections of the members of parliament within 90 days after the parliament is dissolved.
   However, according to the paragraph 2 of the article 123 (4) the election might be delayed for another 90 days, only, if it is not possible to conduct the election for reasons of an act of God. It says, ‘Provided that in a case where, in the opinion of the chief election commissioner, it is not possible, for reasons of an act of God, to hold such election within the period specified in this clause, such election shall be held within ninety days following next after the last day of such period.’
   So according to the Bangladesh Constitution, there is no scope to delay the election of Bangladesh parliament except for reasons of an act of God, e.g. natural calamities. Any attempt to delay the election might be contradictory with the article 7 (2) of the Constitution, which says, ‘This Constitution is, as the solemn expression of the will of the people, the supreme law of the Republic, and if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution and other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.’
   According to Article 106, President of Bangladesh might ask the advice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in this matter. It says, ‘If at any time it appears to the President that a question of law has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to the Appellate Division for consideration and the division may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report its opinion thereon to the President.’ However, we have to remember that the Appellate division might also suggest the president not to delay the election according to the Constitution.
   As the Constitution, according to the Article 123, is clear and provides straightforward guidelines, the Election Commission is constitutionally bound to hold the election within 90 days.
   Muhammad Mizanur Rahaman
   Helsinki, Finland