Okay, so Bush and Rumsfeld are offering a way for Blair to withdraw with a modicum of face, and what happens?

This does.

Who does Blair think he's kidding? The whole world and his dog knows that the war is going to happen with or without the UN. The British people don't want it. The rest of the world, virtually, doesn't want it. All Blair's posturing makes no difference whatsoever to Bush. So why not step back now and leave Bush to get on with it? What's with the mad scramble to be in on it?

"Please, George, let us join in your war that nobody wants. Let us kill people, too. Please, please."

Strange.

Thatcher got re-elected by fighting her unjust war. I hope at least we've moved on enough to throw Blair out for fighting his.