Blair appeals to critics

Blair insists he can influence Bush over Middle East

By Nick Assinder BBC News Online political correspondent

All the jibes about being President Bush's poodle have clearly hit their mark.

Tony Blair used his speech to diplomats to insist he is not simply toeing the White House line when he backs military action against Saddam Hussein.

The message he wants to go out from this performance is clear - he is his own man and will only back war if he believes it to be right.

Blair looks to war

And, far from obediently leaping at the sound of his American master's voice, he is laying it on the line to George W over the wider Middle East crisis.

It is, of course, precisely the message many on his backbenches and elsewhere want to hear.

The prime minister's critics believe he is far too close to Washington and is getting little in return.

Call up

They fear - with some pretty good evidence - that the prime minister has already made his mind up that war against Iraq is inevitable.

The latest moves underlining their concerns are the publication by the Foreign Secretary Jack Straw of the government's aims and objectives over Iraq, and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's call up of reservists.

But, even as all this was happening, the opposition to war was growing - and a confusing message was coming from the government.

Straw moved odds

While the prime minister was repeating his hard-line threats to Saddam, and hinting that war looked the most likely outcome, Mr Straw shifted the odds to 60-40 against a conflict.

This may all be about sending different messages to satisfy different demands, of course, but it leaves the government in apparent confusion.

And the prime minister's speech will do little to lift that fog.

Two policies

But his principal aim was clear and it goes to the heart of where the prime minister believes he stands on the international stage.

He is a fervent supporter of the so-called "special relationship" between Britain and the US.

Equally, however, he sees Britain's future at the heart of Europe and perceives no contradiction in the two policies.

He sees his role as providing an historic bridge between the two.

According to Downing Street: "The basic message is that - because of our history, strengths and role in various world institutions such as the UN, Nato and the EU - we do have a role to play the part of the unifier when addressing issues around the world.

Blair's influence

"If we can play a role influencing others to address these issues (such as the Middle East) as well, so much to the good.

Bush is preparing troops

"But we cannot leave the US to face the difficult issue alone.

"We cannot see weapons of mass destruction, international terrorism or the crossover between the two as a threat but do nothing about it because it's too difficult and, because the US is the superpower, we will leave it to them."

In other words, the prime minister is committed to supporting President Bush on Iraq.

But it will be Tony Blair's influence with the president which will ensure the US turns its full attention to solving the Middle East conflict.

However, it remains to be seen whether the second part of that deal will be taken up by the president.