Blair and Rumsfeld: Rummy got whacked pretty hard over his comment that, if Britain's "internal politics" so dictate, we'll fight without them. Yes, this was too curt a way to treat an ally like Blair, but it had two galvanizing effects: 1) It put the world on notice that no diplomatic setback will deter us. 2) It caused Blair to say, rather unequivocally, that he's willing to put his career on the line. Someone had to say, publically, that Blair is off the hook if he feels his government is in jeopardy, and Rummy did just that. Blair took the opportunity to instead say, "Thanks, but I'll roll my dice with the Great Republic." Bloody good show.