Blair could do enormous damage to Bush were he to distance himself from his partner. Bush, of course, could only do wonders for Blair if he did the same in return. So why do they remain such allies?

That, of course, was the week's coup de grace ? bin Laden offered a truce. Who offers truces? People who are losing the battle.

++++

Mr Bush told Woodward in more than three hours of interviews that in late 2001 he ordered the Pentagon to prepare secret military options for an Iraq invasion, although the book says the President did not immediately tell US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice or CIA director George Tenet.

According to Woodward, Mr Bush's response to the CIA briefing was "nice try". He insisted the public would not understand it. "I've been told all this intelligence about having WMD and this is the best we've got?" he asked Mr Tenet.