so what's the selling point with making blair the quartet's middle east envoy?
the only thing i can think of is that he's famous. so at least he will bring more attention to the quartet's efforts. (without googling, can name the envoy blair is replacing?) but i think his fame is his only plus.
blair doesn't have any particular middle eastern expertise. nor does he have any regional clout that would help him deal with the players in the region--actually, quite the opposite. considering that the guy is mostly known for being bush's yes man and as a champion of the twin middle eastern disasters of iraq and israel's attack against lebanon, it's hard to see how he can be expected to make any constructive contribution at all.
