I thought that since there's been this thread BS: Kerry supported by Iran?, this might even things up a bit. And I have a suspicion it might not get too much attention in the US news media.

That heading is the reported comment of the British Ambassador to Rome, Sir Ivor Reoberts, talking in a closed conference of 100 British and Italian diplomats a few days ago.

Here's a link to the story in the conservative London paper The Daily Telegraph today - with the quote "Al-Qa'eda would vote for the re-election of President Bush. It regards President Bush as the best recruiting sergeant ever," participants quoted Sir Ivor as saying.

Apparently it was all supposed to be off the record, but it was leaked to the press, much to the embarassment of the British Government.

Predictably enough the Telegraph story ends with a formal denial from Sir Ivor: Sir Ivor said last night, through the Foreign Office: "The remarks as reported did not reflect my personal view."

However in the light of an earlier paragraph it looks as if the Telegraph, in common with the rest of the press, took this denial with rather a large pinch of salt: British officials said Sir Ivor would at most receive a verbal rebuke, as he was speaking "under Chatham House rules".

Chatham House, the Royal Institute for International Affairs, holds meetings under a privacy rule that allows comments to be reported as long as the identity of the speaker is protected.