When Bush replied that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would take on that task, Blair made a comment that hinted at the power hierarchy between the U.S. and Britain.
"Obviously if she goes out she's got to succeed, as it were," Blair said, "whereas I can go out and just talk."
The suggestion - astounding in its bluntness - appeared to be that when Washington speaks it must mean business, but Britain can get away with airing proposals and absorbing rejection.
Blair's banquet-table activism contrasted with the more relaxed manner of other G-8 leaders.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was pictured chewing on food while looking over notes, while Italian premier Romano Prodi - who himself seeks a role as Mideast facilitator - in this case contented himself with smiling benignly as he waited for the meal to start.
02:51 IAF warplanes pound southern Beirut, launch at least three missiles (AP)
01:54 Report: Israel Air Force renews strikes on Beirut and Bekaa Valley (AP)
that could really hurt Blair if the Brits see it that way, they already call him Bush's puppet
Got some things need doing here, WWIII has to take a backseat.
I'll be in and out of this thread most of the night, best bet for contact is through Freepmail.
Hang tough.