A BRACING SHOT OF RUM:

After days of setbacks and jitters, Blair regains his nerve: Short and Chirac upset No 10, and US rang alarm bells. But PM is now ready for war (Patrick Wintour, March 13, 2003, The Guardian)

The discomfort of Labour MPs was plain on their faces in the Commons yesterday, but after wobbly Tuesday in Downing Street moral certitude has returned to the frontbenches.

At prime minister's questions, Tony Blair gave the impression that his great decision has been made. There will be war, with or without the support of the UN security council. Even if a majority of security council members fail to endorse a second resolution, British troops will go into military action alongside the US. Moreover, Mr Blair declared - after weeks of speculation about the legality of conflict - that "we would not do anything that would not have a proper legal basis to it". He presumably would not risk such a view unless he felt sure he was supported by the attorney general, his good friend Lord Goldsmith.

This certainty contrasted markedly from Tuesday, when it appears the lines of communication between the White House and Downing Street became extremely fragile.

Rightly or wrongly, the White House was becoming increasingly anxious that Mr Blair's diplomats at the UN were going an extra mile too far in search of support from the swing six states. Calls between the Foreign Office and the state department, and to a lesser extent, between British and US diplomats at the UN, became difficult.

Mr Bush has always been aware of the political shelter a second UN resolution would provide Mr Blair in his battle with Labour and British opinion. But Washington feared Mr Blair was starting to stray over some of America's diplomatic red lines.

It has been an article of political faith for Mr Blair and Mr Bush to keep their tactical differences to a minimum in public. But the swing six states, struggling to make a choice between the US and France, started to discern Britain was willing to go much further than the US in search of a compromise and their support. [...]

Mr Rumsfeld spoke after one of his regular phone conversations with his British counterpart, Geoff Hoon. The American, under the impression that Britain might have to hold its troops back, must have been reflecting the despondent tone emerging from London.

The effect was confusion in political, diplomatic and military circles, and a midnight call between Mr Bush and Mr Blair to clarify their position.

It was the culmination of a bad few days for Downing Street. But by this morning the wobble was over. Overnight Mr Blair faced down the difficulties mounting on many sides and emerged more resolute than ever.

The rebels at yesterday's Labour's parliamentary party meeting were seen off after overplaying their hand. Mr Blair told MPs at question time that British troops would fight alongside the US.

Sometimes you need to be stern even with a good ally. Mr. Rumsfeld merely returned the favor that Margaret Thatcher did the first George Bush. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 12, 2003 10:17 PM