I was going to explain why Blair is an idiot for visiting Iraq yesterday but I see Simon Jenkins has already done the business.

Why has Tony Blair flown to Baghdad? This day of all days he should stay away. Everyone should stay away. Leave the new prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, at least to appear to be his own man and not a coalition puppet the day after he has been sworn in.

Indeed. It's the last thing he needs. Blair's visit undermines any slim chance there might be for "a new beginning" in Iraq. It's another in a long line of unforgivable errors of judgement.

Maliki's response appears to have been this statement of intent. He knows the damage Blair's visit could do and he really doesn't want to look like a puppet.

Tags: News, Politics, Iraq, Tony Blair