Prime Minister Blair has long felt -- he certainly felt after September 11 -- that there was no moral or strategic advantage to be gained by artificial distance from the U.S.

President Chirac said recently almost with the tone of 'I told you so' that what he considers blind loyalty to the U.S. doesn't get you much in return,

[Merkel and her party] did criticize the Schroeder government, which in their view was needlessly antagonizing the Americans, ... But they didn't really suggest strong support for American policy, which would be very difficult since that's a sure voter loser in Germany.

On many levels, the British presence is more sustainable. It is safer in the Shiite south, and casualties are low.

There's a general sense I think at least in the British Foreign Office and the British military that the U.S. tactics have been too heavy-handed and may be responsible for some of what we're seeing.

Germany in general has stayed united with the other two partners, but is considered sort of the weak link, ... My guess is that (Merkel's) Christian Democrats might be marginally more in line with the U.S. position.