I think you're wrong on this one Hawk, as far as the UK was concerned this was "Blairs War"...nothing to do with oil on this side of the pond. Glory and political capital was the prize for Mr Blair, and to that end he single handedly convinced a craven Labour party to go with the American adventure.

There are distinct similarities between the euphoria surrounding Blair before and during his first and second term and the cheerleading of folks like Alice, Amos,and many others here who seem to have been completely taken in by the two Party "contest"

Most in the UK saw Blair as a charismatic leader for the left, who would bring a fairer "changed" society, only the old Labour dinosaurs,the "commies" and anarchists saw through him and witnessed such sleaze and hypocricy that I am sure Labour will never rule the UK again.

We must stop hailing all these false dawns...and Obama is indeed another false dawn...and start to realise that there will be no magic fix for either of our countries.   Real change will involve pain and hardship, words that Obama, McCain or Brown dare not utter, they will just carry on with the show, re-arrange the scenery ,alter the dialogue, but underneath it will be the same old show ....and we as ever, the paying customers....Ake