What did Blair's visit to the US achieve?

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush say the date for handing over power in Iraq - 30 June - will be kept.

At a joint news conference in Washington, Mr Bush told reporters: "We will not waver in the face of fear and intimidation."

The two leaders also stressed the "road map" for Middle East peace had not been abandoned.

Their meeting has coincided with indications from senior US officials that they are prepared to accept a plan prepared by UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

It proposes replacing the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council by a caretaker government after the 30 June handover.

Do you think Tony Blair's visit to the United States made a difference? Can the crisis in Iraq be resolved? What role should the United Nations play?

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This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of the opinions we have received:

Blair's trip to US will not help UK and won't make difference as far as UK's interests are concerned. The difference it might make will be for GW Bush and his election campaign. And yes, the crisis in Iraq can be resolved if US learns to behave and realizes that military might cannot achieve everything. For how long US citizens will be fooled by Bush?
Junaid, Islamabad, Pakistan

I can only wish the President of the United States could explain his foreign decisions as clearly as the Prime Minister James Sanderson, San Antonio, TX, US

Achieve anything? Perhaps only a sense that the US and the UK stand as one and that the UK has staked so much by standing with the US on this matter. This is a visit between the allies (Blair and Bush) to ensure that the two powers work as one. The crisis will be solved. How it solved is probably beyond the control of these two men, which is why the UN must have a major role in helping establish a stable government of Iraqis, by Iraqis, for Iraqis. As an American I can only wish the President of the United States could explain his foreign decisions as clearly as the Prime Minister of England. While I don't always agree with the choices that are made on my behalf as a citizen of countries, at least Blair gives explanations that are not muddled.
James Sanderson, San Antonio, TX, US

We should start to worry when world leaders don't get together to find solutions to all the terrible things that are happening in today's world. If each country's leader acted independently it would be a green light for terrorists. Somewhere a line has to be drawn. If a meeting between the leaders of the US and the UK achieves a drawing of such a line, it will at least be a start.
KR, UK

What hubris Tony Blair displays! Surely George Bush's first question should be "Why are you cutting your defence spending at a time like this. Couldn't be you expect to carry on riding on the American taxpayers' shirt-tails could it?". Shameful!
Paul O'Brien, Plymouth, England

Blair in his press conference said that the overwhelming majority of Iraqi people are with the coalition. How does he know that? Did he consult the same intelligence sources which confirmed the absolute existence of WMDs in Iraq?
Ehsan Maher, Birmingham, UK

I have a great deal of respect for Tony Blair. At the very least people should see that Blair acts as a counterbalance to Bush's neo-conservative endorsed views. Tony Blair is the only leader in the world at the moment that can personally influence Bush's opinions and actions. And that in itself is worth Blair's visit to the US. Blair is doing a brave thing, riding the tiger.
Imran Juman, Reading, England

Doesn't anyone wonder at the very close relationship between two people who have nothing in common? Bush believes in the death penalty, guns, a type of democracy which is alien to most true democracies, whereas Blair is against the death penalty, is articulate and has a bright and alert intelligence - something clearly lacking in Bush. How Blair became caught up with such a person is a mystery, but the outcome of this relationship endangers the rest of the world.
Joan, Canada/U.K.

The main thing that this visit will achieve is yet another opportunity for the wildly biased media to push their mindless "anti war" message without anyone being required to come up with an alternative.
Matt Davis, London, UK

Nothing, absolutely nothing. With regards to the Middle East in general and Iraq in particular, Great Britain has no policy except for the fulfilment of what ever Washington dictates. If you think otherwise, you are fooling yourself.
George Okammor, Chicago, US

No more than it has all along! More photo-ops, and could well be the start of his campaign for re-election. Tony Blair should be made the Press Secretary to George Bush for his ability to articulate what George Bush and his government (Powell included!) are unable to do.
Raj, Canada

Blair's visit will merely serve to bolster Bush's poll ratings. He has never been able to change any of Bush's policies. When Bush didn't get what he wanted from the UN, he just ignored it.
Mark, Dublin

Despite the UN's need for reform it is still widely respected and can rise to this challenge Adriana, Vancouver, Canada

I believe that the only solution that will work is one formed by the people of Iraq and an objective international body which the populations trust. Despite the UN's need for reform it is still widely respected and can rise to this challenge. Perhaps this can be the beginning of the path to reform of an antiquated institution and create a more viable body to deal with the challenges of the new millennium.
Adriana, Vancouver, Canada

As Blair says: "On one side are the fanatics, extremists and terrorists. On the other side are the Iraqi people..." Unfortunately he still can not see that he belongs to the former.
Ken Belcher, Chicago USA

It makes no difference to US politics whether Blair was there or not. The US administration will do what their speech writers write.
Mike, London

Both Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair will receive supportive words from each other which they miss in their own country!! Sangam Dhruva, USA

Both Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair will receive supportive words from each other which they miss in their own country!!
Sangam Dhruva, USA

Didly Squat!! That's what the visit achieved.
Sajid Khan, Boston, USA

Tony Blair's won't dare to upset his pal Mr Bush, I wish he had the courage to do so. Bush is just using Blair to get a new UN resolution. The mass killings by the US military have inflamed the situation in Iraq dangerously. The UN is the only option left for the US and Bush will have to go that route, much against his will I feel.
Laurie, Manila, Philippines

Nothing. Although Blair may want to say farewell to Bush as he won't be in power for much longer.
CR, Boston, USA

Since blair is facing the fact that he probably will not be re-elected. He may be seeking advice from Bush on rigging his election.
Steve, Ohio, US

This visit assures the people from both countries that we are united Robert, Glendale, USA

Funny how this visit between leaders is bashed as nothing but propoganda or more evil plotting. Can anyone tell me what French and German leaders discuss and achieve when they meet? This visit assures the people from both countries that we are united.
Robert, Glendale, USA

Mr Blair appears to be the only world leader who has any sort of influence over Bush. He must use this to help formulate a structured plan to benefit the people of Iraq, whose very existance has gone from oppressed by Saddam to the brink of complete collapse under the coalition.
Mal, Glos, England

Blair is an eloquent and articulate speaker who represents a firm resolve to stop terrorism. It aids international unity for Blair to visit and speak as he did today in Washington, DC, with President Bush.
Donald Fraser Miles, Elliot Lake, Canada

Two good friends are getting together to plan their next move on many issues - Iraq is just one of them. While Europeans whine, complain, and grow nearer committing suicide over their low self-esteem, Americans are winning everywhere! This page is always full of idiotic remarks from around the world that Americans get a kick out of reading. Frankly, America is the only nation on the planet that can accomplish anything. Losers always make excuses.
David Croft, Tampa, FL

Shame on you Blair Gaston, Bruxelles, Belgium

Shame on you Blair. What did Bush promised you in exchange?
Gaston, Bruxelles, Belgium

We now have the world according to dumb and dumber as they journey through their bogus adventure. ..and thousands keep dying
Thomas, Expat American

I love their smiles and bravado. No mention of the deaths of civilians in Falluja or the deaths of U.S. and British troops. No mention that the WMD do not exit and other lies. Nor did they mention the disappearance of nuclear materials under our watch. What hath we wrought? Ben
Ben, Middlebury, Vt USA

Blair has shown great strength and leadership in a complicated world. Thomas Johnson, Washington DC, USA

It seems like a lot of British don't appreciate their leader Tony Blair. Blair has shown great strength and leadership in a complicated world. This why he is very well liked in America. I think today's show of unity at the joint news conference reiterates this point.
Thomas Johnson, Washington DC, USA

Presumable Mr Blair needs to meet regularly with Mr Bush in order to receive his instructions for next few months. If you include Britain and the other captured territories, how many states are there in the Grand old US of A?
Paul, Belgium

Blair is a suck-up. He sold his soul to the USA. Brits should have him removed, he's a disgrace to the British people.
Tony, USA, USA

What will Blair's US visit achieve? Some photographs.
R C Sutcliffe,

A show of force means little to these rebellious factions Barry, UK

Did the sending of more troops help in Northern Ireland or Vietnam? A show of force means little to these rebellious factions and an alternative foreign policy is required by the allies in order to build on the good work the forces have so far produced.
Barry, UK

I suspect the outcome of these talks will be along the same lines as before. At the end of them the two leaders will emerge to announce what amounts to a continuation of Bush's policies. I don't know what the hold is that Bush has over Blair.
John Wallace, London, UK

Blair gets to take advantage of the current exchange rate, and maybe top up his tan at his buddies ranch. Sorry did you think he was going to discuss Palestine, you misguided fools.
Tito, Brazil

It is interesting that most people in the US believe that Tony Blair has a profoundly positive influence on President Bush and that most people in Britain seem to think that he is just Bush's lap dog. As an American I am grateful for Mr. Blair's support of our country and his influence on US foreign policy.
Mike, St. Louis, USA

The people of Iraq deserve a lot better John, Wilts, UK

The visit needs to establish a strategy for handing over power to the Iraqi people in a way which best serves the Iraqis. Talk of "handing over power" on the 30th June is ridiculous, the country is clearly not ready for it and I can't imagine the UN will give its endorsement. The date of 30th June has more to do with forthcoming elections in the States and UK than it does with serving the best interests of the Iraqis. The people of Iraq deserve a lot better after the appalling way they've been treated by Bush and Blair.
John, Wilts, UK

One of the lessons of this pretty sorry affair seems to be that even the most powerful nations need the support of the UN to achieve peace. Winning wars is not the problem, it is winning the peace that counts, and we need to reform and strengthen the UN so that it can play the role that was always envisaged for it.
Dan, London, UK

Blair's visit will achieve nothing. The US has a long history of totally ignoring its allies for its own interests. But it expects those allies to support its actions totally. It operates double standards whether it be in free trade or implementation of its vision of democracy. We should realise that the US, like any other country, is only interested in its self interests (especially in election year).
Dave, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Blair's visit has two purposes. To provide, for the electorate back home, the illusion that Britain has some influence over the American juggernaut. And to provide, for the US electorate, a veneer of international credibility for Bush and so aid his re-election hopes.
Tom Reea, Brighton, UK

Let Bush worry about Iraq, Blair should start to show more concern with running his own country.
David Askey, Birmingham, England

Bush/Blair weren't interested in the UN a year ago. The UN should tell them "you broke it, you fix it". Blair is not part of the New American Century so where is his influence on Bush? Nowhere. But I guess he'll enjoy some American applause again before returning to this country where he's lost all credibility.
Pete G, UK

The visit will give Blair and Bush the chance to reassure each other that they have done the right thing Alex Hodge, Edinburgh

I think the visit will give Blair and Bush the chance to reassure each other that they have done the right thing. It will give Blair the chance to tell the world that Great Britain is still at one with American policy. It is a meeting of leaders that will probably ignore popular opinion in the same way as in the run up to the Iraq war. If you are asking what it will achieve, that would depend on your definition of achievement.
Alex Hodge, Edinburgh

The United Nations should play a major role in Iraq by involving peacekeeping troops to eventually replace American and British forces. The Iraq crisis can only be resolved if the democratic international community can show strength and unity against international terrorism.
David Myers, Oxford, England

Tony Blair's visit should be pointing out the failures of US policy in Iraq, the impossibility of achieving reconciliation through reprisals and the need for UN command. What will it actually achieve? Mr Blair saying whatever he thinks won't get him into trouble....as usual.
Chris Dunckley, Cambridge, UK

I would hope that it will persuade the impotent UN to begin what it should have been doing all along - taking a decisive lead in the fight against terrorism, instead of waffling and waiting for controversial unilateral action.
Dave, UK

I don't think Blair's visit to his political master will make any difference at all. The world according to Bush is firmly entrenched in the American psyche. The Iraq crisis will worsen and will not be resolved until a truly international input is established. Even then it will mean many years of chaos.
Mike, Brisbane, Australia

I believe that Mr. Blair's visit has two main points: a) To press in the UN for a new resolution and actually try to legitimize the situation there and b) try to work out his differences with Mr. Bush over some issues (Israel-Palestinian conflict, Iraq) where US seems to act without consulting with UK first. I am afraid that he can achieve very little on both issues.
A.Kalamas, Greece

They want to handover their wrong doings to UN and save their skin R Naidu, Bangalore, India

The crisis has come to the level that both Bush & Blair have no solution. They want to handover their wrong doings to UN and save their skin.
R Naidu, Bangalore, India

Tony Blair and GW Bush are proving to be world leaders indeed. No other countries are capable of matching their levels of deceit, incompetence, greed, hypocrisy and sheer ignorance of history and it's lessons. I cannot work out whether they are grossly incompetent or deliberately evil, but the results on the ground are the same. Mass graves.
Ken Hall, UK

Nothing at all. The people of the Arab world have no trust in Blair. His spin diplomacy is only a skin deep
Ahmad Hmoud, Jordan.Amman

I see the Blair-Bush meeting on an equal footing to Churchill-FDR. We are at war on a global terrorist network. Winston Churchill lamented about the United States slow entrance into WWII, in the present global war, what will it take for us to fully engage in this war?
Mike Wiley, Champlin, USA

Mr. Blair demonstrates once again that he is a world leader R.D. Cotton, Alexandria, USA

Mr. Blair demonstrates once again that he is a world leader. The two greatest powers on Earth right now are the US and Great Britain. The other major powers seem content to sit on the sidelines and complain, complain, complain!
R.D. Cotton, Alexandria, USA

Both the UK and the US are already in a deep quagmire in Iraq. I don't see how they can get out of it and I also don't see how this visit will achieve anything concrete. I doubt if countries like France, China and Russia will agree to any sort of a peacekeeping force in Iraq till the United States stages a phased and complete withdrawal.
Bharat Punjabi, Toronto

The visit is once again about the self aggrandisement of Blair. He will go down in history as one of the poorest Prime Ministers on the domestic front, so Iraq has been all about his place in history.
Jim Hagan, Kuwait

Whether or not you support Blair and Bush, planning a nation's future governance is important enough to warrant face to face discussion.
Daniel Lopez, Charlottesville, USA

In 12 to 18 months time the difference will be clear - new leaders of the US and the UK will be trying to find ways out of the messes that these two have created in Iraq, Europe, and the UN .
Graeme, London, UK

I agree 100% with Graeme from London. Blair is out of touch with the general feeling of the British people. We have seen history in the making - who will be the next UK prime minister to risk all and back the US in these crazy wars that nobody wants or needs! Wars can bring down presidents! Look what happened in Spain last month?
Paul, Madrid

Another visit??? What happened to the telephone, video conferencing? Who is paying? (As if that question needs an answer!) Have I missed something or is Blair always going to the States?
Ken, Herts, UK

In 2001, I had a lot of respect for Blair. I've been very disappointed in him since. This visit will be just another love fest, and will result in nothing more than another empty statement of blind determination to continue making a mess of Iraq.
Matthew, San Francisco, USA

Forget about the special relationship, it does not exist anymore John Crease, San Marcos, USA

I would have more respect for Mr Blair if he would look after the British viewpoint on Iraq and the Middle East rather than appearing to agree with everything that Bush says and does. Forget about the special relationship, it does not exist anymore.
John Crease, San Marcos, USA

More air miles for Tony....little else.
Jon S, London, UK

Blair will have to make some very difficult decisions soon. How far is he willing to go with GW Bush? There is always a point when one realises that something, somewhere has terribly gone wrong.
M. Khan, London, UK

I suppose that the most significant outcome of Blair's visit will be a boost for Bush's presidential campaign. Blair is very popular in the US and his articulate speeches benefit Bush by association. I don't think that Blair, a supposed left of centre PM, should be helping the re-election campaign of an extreme right wing candidate.
Tim Hinson, Cumbria, UK

There is no new thinking coming out of either London or Washington M. Clark, UK/US

This visit has all he hallmarks of trying to rescue the sinking ship. In the face of all that has taken place in Iraq recently, and the fact that there is no new thinking coming out of either London or Washington, it would not seem that this visit will make a difference. The only hope is that Kofi Annan will have some fresh insight to offer, and that the others stop talking enough to listen to him.
M. Clark, UK/US

It is the uneducated and uniformed who have a failure to understand that these two men are honourable men doing what is best for their countries. They have staked their political careers on their decisions. I wonder how many other people would be willing to fill their shoes?
Tom, Connecticut, USA

It will temporarily increase the integrity and credibility of the UK. At least until Blair returns.
Gary Chiles, Wellington, New Zealand

These two men have put their political lives and careers on the line because of their decisions regarding Iraq. Given that, I doubt either of them would have done what they did unless they absolutely felt that it was in the best interest and security for their countries and the entire world. These are educated, informed and intelligent men. They have done the best they could with what they had to work with. It is a shame that some people are so blinded with hatred that they cannot see this.
Kimberly, Tulsa, OK, USA

An expensive trip for Blair to end up talking to a brick wall. Maybe he should try a phone call and get the same answers for a small fraction of the price!
Michael Mcevoy, Salem, USA

If Blair wants to be an international diplomat then resign and give the job to someone who actually wants to be involved with running this country. The UK can't take much more of being the 2nd most important thing in the government's priorities.
Rob, UK

Despite all Blair's attempts he has little to no influence on Bush Paul, Warwick

The short answer is no. Despite all Blair's attempts he has little to no influence on Bush. The US will continue to make unilateral decisions with no regard for its "coalition" partners and with the prime goal being the re-election of George W Bush.
Paul, Warwick

Blair's visit will make no difference at all. Bush and company are not open to suggestions and good advice. Why should they be? They know it all!
Wil, Minneapolis, USA

Tony Blair is going to Washington to once again be told what to think, say and do. He will come away telling us about the "special relationship" and how much influence Great Britain has in Washington. The truth is that George Bush will do precisely what George Bush is going to do, when he wants to and with scant regard for either the consequences or Tony Blair's views and opinions. Tony will be left to agree, retrospectively and put a brave face on it.
Michael, York, UK

Never mind what it will achieve, which will probably be nothing... Why has Mr Blair abdicated domestic responsibility?
Jim, UK

The UN should have been involved prior to the coalition going it alone. Blair's biggest mistake was to take Bush's stance. From what we are seeing on TV it must be appalling to be living in Iraq presently. With the lawlessness how can the country be rebuilt?
Andrew, London, UK

Blair represents the intelligent and articulate face of the alliance and his insight is badly needed at this time after Bush's poor performance. Hopefully Blair will be asked some tough questions and will be able to provide the intelligent answers the world needs.
Vincent De Mello, London, UK

Why should the UN clean up the mess created by Bush and Blair? They went into Iraq without any idea of what they were going to do once they were there. Now that it's turning into another Vietnam, they want the international community to bail them out. Pathetic.
Tom Reeve, London

Blair will be pressured to provide more troops and lean on Nato countries to step in. Other than that I don't see much else coming out of this meeting.
Brad, USA