What a star. What a leader. When Tony Blair began his speech to Congress with the line Thank you, Mr President, for your leadership, he wasn't just saying what he knew would produce a warm response from his audience. He meant it.

Because unlike so many of my fellow countrymen - unlike the 'million morons' who marched to keep Saddam in power, for instance, who should live in shame - he knows that, as he put it, There never has been a time when the power of America has been so necessary and so misunderstood.

He gets it. He knows that we are in a fight against an axis of evil, a fight which we will either win or lose: This isn't fantasy. It is 21st century reality, now. And if we lose, all that we value - our freedom and liberty - will be destroyed. If we win, freedom and liberty will be extended and given to many of those who today live in tyranny.

It beggars belief that there are those on the left who want nothing more than to bring down a leader, Tony Blair, whose career is now defined by that fight for freedom.

But after such a speech as that, who cares!

Don't ever apologise for your values. Tell the world why you are proud of America...Tell them why Americans one and all stand upright and respectful...Being American means being free. That's why they are proud...What you can bequeath to the world is the light of liberty...We are fighting for the inalienable right of human kind to be free.

The Prime Minister ended with the most pertinent remark of all: Destiny put you in this place at this moment in time, and the task is yours to do. Pertinent, because it applies just as much to Mr Blair himself. Thank God we have two leaders, in Blair and Bush, whom destiny has put in place to lead that task.
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