Don't expect Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair, to disagree with Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials who contend that the announced pullout of British troops from Iraq is a good thing. Blair has been criticized for being Bush's lapdog when it comes to the war in Iraq.

Cheney and others have said that the withdrawal is an indication of how well things are going in the region of the country controlled by the British.

If the administration's take is fact and isn't spin, does that mean the surge of American troops is a clear indication that things are worse in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq than the president has acknowledged?

British commentators have suggested that the pullout has more to do with domestic politics than military strategy. Blair's unpopularity is directly tied to the unpopularity in his country of the Iraq war. The prime minister will be stepping down and wants to ensure that his successor, finance chief Gordon Brown, and the Labor Party aren't burdened by the war.

What's the view from across the pond?

Stay tuned.