Tony Blair is to become Middle East envoy

Tony Blair is to become Middle East envoy. The outgoing UK prime minister will work on behalf of the US, Russia, the UN and the EU.

For me he is the wrong man for that region, reasons:

1 The Iraq war demonstrates that he does not understand Arab politics and it has made him deeply unpopular in the region.

2 On the Arab-side he is regarded as pro-Israeli.

3 On the Israeli side he is regarded as having a confused position.

4 Next year Bush and the Neo-Conservatives will be out of the Whitehouse and the new administration will regard Blair as tainted and will want an entirely fresh approach.

5 Many others are more qualified.