Blair has been US President George W. Bush's staunchest ally on Iraq, sending 45,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen into battle -- amounting to a quarter of Britain's armed forces.

Thankfully for Blair, the number of casualties has been modest. A total of 30 British troops have been killed to date -- 20 as a result of accidents and friendly fire.

The British armed forces, the most powerful in Europe, have so far shown an effectiveness and professionalism that has won many plaudits.

The Independent newspaper, a British daily opposed to the war, commented Thursday that the swift fall of Saddam Hussein's regime is "testimony to the professionalism and discipline of the US and British forces."

Military success aside, London's "special relationship" with Washington -- a cornerstone of British foreign policy since World War II -- has strengthened considerably because of the war.

But by being such a close ally of Bush, Blair has been accused by opponents of being the president's "poodle" while risking having Britain seen as the United States' 51st state.

By positioning London so close to Washington over Iraq, Blair has also left Europe in the wings -- and is now tasked with the difficult job of rebuilding relations with Paris and Berlin who both remain vehement opponents to the war.

Blair is to meet German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for talks next Tuesday when the subject of who will run post-war Iraq will certainly feature.

Germany and France are calling for a decisive UN role in shaping the political future of Iraq as well as dealing with its humanitarian needs, while Blair appears to have persuaded a reportedly sceptical Bush to permit the UN a "vital role."

Although support for the war among Britons continues to rise -- 66 percent now support the conflict according to a poll out Friday -- anti-war demonstrations continue to fill the streets of London and Britain's main towns and cities.

A month before the war began, more than one million protesters, an unprecedented number, took to the streets of London to express anger at Blair's handling of the Iraq crisis.

On March 22, two days after US and British troops invaded Iraq, between 200,000 and 700,000 people marched in the British capital against the war, while peace activists plan to hit the streets of London on Saturday.

Once the war is over Blair will no doubt immerse himself in domestic politics -- trying to persuade the public that the economy and public services have indeed improved.

He will also have to repair damage within his own Labour Party after almost half its elected members of parliament voiced opposition to Blair's handling of the Iraq crisis in a parliamentary vote in the run-up to war.

Blair, however, will count himself lucky that only one member of his cabinet resigned in opposition to the conflict.

As swift as the coalition's march on Baghdad, Blair replaced parliamentary leader Robin Cook, who called the war "unjust" in his resignation speech, with Labour Party chairman and minister without portfolio John Reid.

SPACE.WIRE