From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Tony Blair, past, present, and future.

Hello again, I'm Oran Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues. Americans care about most. It's been

the worst-kept political secret in years, and today Blair finally set the date. He'll submit his

resignation to Queen Elizabeth on June 27th. By that time, the majority labor parties expected to

have chosen Chancellor Gordon Brown as the next Prime Minister. On to the point, we'll look at Blair's

accomplishments and his failures.

Will support for the war in Iraq damage his legacy or enhance it?

What will Blair's absence mean for President Bush and what's the future for leadership of the European Union?

On reporter's notebook later on, Pope Benedict the 16th and abortion in Latin America. First, here's the news.

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International. Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again. Mormon-Anally, back with To The Poet.

Tony Blair says 10 years is enough, and he'll step down as British Prime Minister on June 27th.

On To the Point, we'll look at Blair's record,

including peace in Northern Ireland and support for the war in Iraq. What will his departure

mean for President Bush and the European Union? On reporter's notebook in Brazil, Pope Benedict

the 16th is talking about excommunication for politicians who favor abortion. First, this news update with the House

expected to pass a new Iraq spending bill this evening. President Bush said again today he will

not accept a provision for funding in two installments with a cutoff in July. So I'll veto the bill

...