goodnews in today's Guardian

[Chris Burford]

And even better in yesterday's Telegraph was a report from a highly placed 
Downing Street source that the British government was asking the US to put 
off an invasion till the autumn to allow time for the weapons inspectors to 
do their work. The Telegraph is a particularly interesting source. Although 
it is the old imperialist Conservative voice, it also has close links with 
the British military, who are dovish about any actual possible war.

By lunchtime yesterday the BBC was carrying a report quoting Tony Blair, 
refuting the story above but confirming that Britain did not attach 
decisive importance to the deadline of 27th January, and quoting Powell to 
a similar effect to illustrate the claim that they are not out of step with 
the US administration.

Following Blix's statement on Thursday the British Ambassador to the UN 
promptly stated that 27th January was not a decisive day.

So there has been a turn. Entirely for their own reasons, the Brits and 
Powell have succeeded in putting a little sand in the wheels of the war 
machine, and focussed greater attention on the consultation and 
investigatory process under the remit of the UN.

Chris Burford

London