Iraq: Time to pay the Piper.
At long last both Bush and Blair seem finally to be facing the domestic political cost of their illegal invasion of Iraq.
For too long it has seemed as if both men would be allowed to shield themselves behind the flags of their respective countries, claiming that what they did was in good faith, and calling into question the patriotism of anyone who dared to challenge that perception.
It has been extremely depressing to watch how easily they have both got away with imposing their alternative reality upon two gullible domestic audiences on either side of the Atlantic.
But now there appears to be a sea change at both sides of that great ocean, and both audiences declare that they have lost their faith in their leadership. Simultaneously, both Bush and Blair are facing their worst ever poll numbers, as reality - and the sheer scale of their Iraqi miscalculation - becomes apparent to even the most disinterested observer.
The US President's popularity has reached a nadir, with a New York Times/CBS opinion poll showing that 31 per cent of Americans approve of his performance - exactly the same level as his father at the low point of his presidency. Only 69 per cent of his own party now supports him. Historically, no president has recovered from such lows.
Mr Blair, too, is slumping in the polls. Yesterday a YouGov survey showed that only 26 per cent of people are satisfied with his performance, making him the most unpopular Labour prime minister in modern times.
Blair is now facing daily demands that he names the date of his departure, whilst even Bush supporters are now hoping that he loses control of Congress in the mid term elections.
Morale among Labour backbenchers slumped after the speculation about Mr Blair's future overshadowed Prime Minister's Questions. "It was pretty alarming to see how badly he got hit today," one said. A cabinet minister admitted: "He looked deflated. He had a bad day."
Mr Cameron told Mr Blair: "Haven't you put yourself in a Catch 22? If you set a timetable for leaving, you've told us there will be paralysis. But if you refuse to set a timetable, your Government will remain paralysed. Isn't it becoming increasingly clear that you should go, and go soon?"
Mr Blair admitted it has been "a difficult time".
It would appear that, at long last, the writing is on the wall for both of these charlatans; and that the public is about to hold them responsible for their misdeeds in the Middle East.
It has been a long time coming.
Only one in four Brits now approve of Blair's performance whilst seven out of ten Americans think Bush has taken them on the wrong track.
For those of us who always opposed their actions in Iraq, the last few years have been extremely depressing. However, we can take some scant comfort from the fact that collective common sense appears to be returning, the false arguments about faux patriotism appear to have been exposed as the shams they always were, and there is a chance - however slim - that both these men will pay a price that befits their crime.
Blair will, hopefully, be driven from high office and Bush will face a democratic Congress with the power to impeach him.
Order will be restored. And the sheer scale of their lies will have finally caught up with them.
It's enough to restore your faith in human nature.
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