WASHINGTON – The language in the Rose Garden never seemed as rosy as it sounded on Thursday when President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair appeared to be competing over how much they admired each other.

The sun shone brightly on the scene just outside the Oval Office as Bush and Blair, the leaders of an unpopular war in Iraq who stuck together in tough political times, seized the chance to rally some support and justify their actions.

Displaying a friendship that appeared to deepen as the war grew uglier, they complimented each other’s determination and courage in fighting terrorism and proclaimed the “special relationship” between the two countries would endure long after Blair leaves office on June 27, when Gordon Brown is slated to take power.

But even as they showered each other with superlatives, their joint appearance had a bittersweet quality. Blair is leaving office battered by low standing with the British people, and Bush’s prosecution of the war faces deep political trouble in the U.S. The U.S.-British “special relationship” may not be in jeopardy, but it may never be as special as it was between Bush and Blair, once called “Bush’s poodle” in the British press.

Indeed, the relationship may have been a main factor in Blair’s political undoing. But the departing prime minister said he did not regret his actions and heaped praise on Bush as a friend and a “strong leader.”

So special it has become that Bush and Blair seemed protective of each other when tough questions were asked. When a British reporter asked Bush if Blair were the right leader to be talking to now instead of Brown, the president said that he was and interjected, “You are trying to do a tap dance on his political grave, aren’t you? I mean, you don’t understand how effective Blair is, I guess.”

But when he was asked if he might be responsible for Blair leaving office, Bush responded, “I haven’t polled the Labor Conference. But … could be. The question is, am I to blame for his leaving? I don’t know.”

Hoping to avoid another confrontation with Congress, the president said he was optimistic that Republicans and Democrats would agree on a bill to fund the war, but wouldn’t go into his negotiating strategy.

This was Blair’s White House goodbye to America as prime minister, and he used the occasion to call for continued determination in Iraq and in the war on terrorism. “If we drift away from our friends” and make accommodations to escape tough decisions, he said, “our enemy takes heart from that. They watch that. They watch what we are doing the whole time.”

He said he took the view that the U.S. and Britain should “stand shoulder to shoulder” after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. “I never deviated from that view. I do not regret that view. I am proud of the relationship we have.”

The president said he appreciated Blair’s help and added that he would do all he could to help Brown “in office the way Tony Blair helped me … I would hope I would provide the same opportunities for Gordon Brown. I met him. Thought he was a good fellow.”

Blair said he had plenty of things to do over the next month, not the least of which is a summit with the Group of Eight industrial nations where he is pressing a plan to tackle global warming. He said an agreement was possible that would enable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions involving the U.S., Europe, China and India.

Bush said he assured Blair that “we want to be part of a solution” on climate change. “I’ve got some good ideas on how to convince China and India to be part of a global solution. We have a lot of common ground that we’ve been discussing (Thursday).”


The British prime minister arrived Wednesday night and spent the night at the White House’s Queen’s Bedroom that had been used by former Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War II-era visits to the White House.

Before their press conference, Bush took Blair to the White House Situation Room for a video briefing with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and British commanders.

Referring to that briefing, Blair said the situation in Iraq was “immensely challenging, immensely difficult.” But he added he was told that the majority of the people in “main communities,” whether Sunni or Shia, “want to live in peace with one another and want a future for that country that is not marred by terrorism and sectarianism.”

Shouts of protests from anti-war groups on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House could be heard as the two leaders were talking. Referring to the protests, Blair quipped, “It could be supporters we’ve brought in, but I’ve got a feeling the likelihood is no.”

And, he said, in any part of Europe today, “if you want to get the easiest round of applause, then get up and attack America. You get a round of applause. You attack the president, you get a …”

“Standing ovation,” Bush chimed in.

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(c) 2007, Chicago Tribune.

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PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): BUSH-BLAIR

GRAPHIC (from MCT Graphics, 202-383-6064): 20070517 BLAIR bio

AP-NY-05-17-07 1842EDT