[livius]

You'd never know this crisis was going on at all if you read the US press; the only place I'm seeing anything about it is here on FR, where people are gleaning little scraps from various sources.

As for Blair, I doubt that he talked GWB into anything with regard to Iraq. But whether he did or not, I honestly don't think the US would indulge in such idealistic plans again: no more attempting to conquer a country without any civilian damage, no more attempting to bring the blessings of democracy before the conquered citizens have a nice long period under martial law until they settle down, etc. And no more foggy ideas about Islam as a "religion of peace."

[brydic1]

Bush may have wanted to be talked into the Iraq adventure to get rid of Saddam but if you go back and read the statements of Blair, not a day went by that he did not enthuse over the prospect of ending Saddam's rule and bringing democracy to Iraq. I knew, however, if the going got rough neither the British people nor Europeans in general would support these efforts.