Shades of Suez ...

Comparisons are being made by some in the UK, between Tony Blair's handling of Iraq and Anthony Eden's 1956/7, Suez debacle. Undoubtedly, apart from their 'party' politics the similarities are striking.

Like Blair has done, Eden withheld vital information from the British public, their Parliament and even his own Cabinet. All of which, eventually led to his untimely resignation, premature loss of health and historic, public humiliation.

Eden, the then Conservative Premier, responded to Egypt's Colonel Nasser's coup and nationalisation of the Suez Canal Company [run since it's 1869 construction, by Britain & France] by striking secret deals with France & Israel, in 1956, regarding a massive conspiracy. ( The Suez canal being easily the number one route for bringing Middle East oil to Europe.)

The plan was for Israel to invade Egypt, thereby enabling France & Britain to intervene in the guise of peacekeepers, and to reoccupy the canal zone. Just as Tony Blair's Iraq war preperations were 'far from transparent' [to say the least] so were Anthony Eden's. Then, just as now, key negotiations involving a pre-planned military adventure, were conducted by a small, crony-cabal.

On 29th October 1956, the Israelis invaded Egypt -- exactly as per the underhanded, three party secret agreement.

Four days later, British & French paratroops were dropped into Egypt's canal zone. Almost immediately, a major international outcry ensued.

One big difference between Eden's Suez and Blair's Iraq, was the the sudden, strong and unexpected American opposition. Eden was utterly dumbfounded. A 'friend' he'd taken for granted, had turned on him. US President, Dwight Eisenhower, simply refused to counternounce such an operation. He reasoned that Russia, being then allied to Egypt, may well spark a conflict between the the nuclear powers. The American President told the British Premier -- in no uncertain terms -- to pull out.

So completely surprised & shattered was Eden, that he did so without even consulting France. From that moment on, it all fell painfully apart. Practically overnight, Eden became a broken man -- in every respect of the phrase. Almost immediately, he fell seriously ill.

Three months later, in January 1957, Eden was persuaded to step down as Britain's Prime Minister. Two days after that, he resigned as a Member of Parliament, too.