How Not to Treat Your Allies

Update: To avoid confusing anyone I want to point out the "Mr. Howard" in the linked story is Michael Howard, Tory leader of the British government, not John Howard of Australia.

Alas not all is well with the Grand Coalition of the Willing. Forget for the moment the numerous countries that have already set dates to withdraw their support of our Iraqi invasion. There even appears to be trouble within the U.S.-Britain-Aussie love triangle:

Mr Howard's remarks may appear bland. But in the language of diplomacy they amount to a rebuke to Mr Bush - and in particular to his polling guru, Karl Rove, who told him he would not be welcome at the White House after he criticised Mr Blair's use of intelligence before the Iraq war.

Mr Rove was reported by the Sun as telling Howard aides: "You can forget about him meeting the president. Don't bother coming."

The Bush/Rove plan seems to be to treat our allies like dogs, giving scraps out to those who readily perform their tricks, and reprimanding the bad doggies who dare disobey.