Quote for the Day

"Operationally, British forces have performed poorly in Basra. Maybe it's best that they leave. Now we will have a clear field in southern Iraq," - a "senior White House foreign policy official" (Hadley?) to the Daily Telegraph.

From the moment before the war when Rumsfeld said he didn't need the Brits to the comment yesterday that the Brits are no good anyway: this is one reason why the Atlantic alliance is in such disrepair. The lesson is clear: if you want to be an ally of the United States, be prepared to be dumped on by this White House.