It's a bit of a surprise to me to find non-Brits speaking in suport of Blair. I have to remind myself that support from the US isn't necessarily a bad thing! What do we know of England who only England know? I'm "old labour" myself, and don't approve of the rightwards shift that the party has taken in recent years, but I can try to override my prejudices and give him a fairish hearing. I just hope that it's not just rhetoric and righteous indignation, and that there is very good evidence to support what he's doing. I understand why he can't tell us the details, and I'd like to trust him.

Yes, we've suffered from terrorism for many years now; we've also suffered in the past from direct attacks on our country. These are things which haven't been part of American experience--thank God, nobdy deserves that--and coping with it will be hard. I think the spirit of Dunkirik and the Blitz hasn't faded completely over here, but it's a terrible pity that it only realy seems to arise in times like these.

I don't think I'm being too coerent just now; I'll come back later when I've woken up properly.

Steve