INCHING EVER CLOSER TO THE MOMENT WHEN ONLY LAURA AND BARNEY AGREE WITH BUSH

When it comes to Iraq, I get the feeling that Tony Blair's heart just isn't in it anymore:

Dummies 'guard' Iraq garrison

British troops are manning watchtowers with dummies at the Army's main garrison in southern Iraq, it was disclosed last night.

They have used mannequins to take the place of real soldiers during darkness in up to eight of the 16 watchtowers at the Shaibah Logistics Base, west of Basra.

The Grenadier Guards came up with the tactic after being sent out for a six-month tour 47 men short, The Sun reported....

And:

Blair refuses to match US troop 'surge' in Iraq

Tony Blair will make clear this week that Britain is not going to send more troops to Iraq even if the US pushes ahead with a "surge" of 20,000 extra soldiers.

The Prime Minister will insist that the UK will stick to its own strategy of gradually handing over to the Iraqi army, as it has been doing with success in Basra and the south....

Sorry, George -- I know you want to order another round, but, um, they're putting the chairs on the tables and I gotta get to work in the morning.

(Both via DU.)