Thanks everyone, for contributing your thoughts. I feel a bit more informed now.

I admit that when I saw and heard Mr. Blair speaking, I rather selfishly felt relief to see the leader of another country acting front and center in this situation.

My possibly overly idealistic opinion is that it's time for the US to stop regarding itself as the "leader of the free world" and start acting like an equal among the many nations who comprise the free world. Maybe we will have no other choice now. And it's good to know that you in Britain have a man who, at the very least, can be good statesman.