"I was told at the highest level . . . that the military were saying they wouldn't go (to war), whatever the PM said, without the Attorney-General's advice. The question is was the AG leant on?" Short said.

The bedrock base of Bush's Republican party will not tolerate even the most minimal civil unions for gay couples ? which is why Bush was forced to make an entire speech on the subject without saying the words "gay", "lesbian", "homosexual" or "civil union".

While the Bible-belt states have some of the highest divorce rates in the country (Texas has double the rate of Massachusetts), the main focus is on the threat of homosexuality.