Brown Visits US Amid Talk of Cooling Ties

New PM walks political tightrope over relations with White House
By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 29, 2007 5:56 PM CDT
Brown Visits US Amid Talk of Cooling Ties
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown gives a statement to the House of Commons in London in this image taken from TV Wednesday July 25, 2007. Brown on Wednesday called for extending the time limits for detaining terrorist suspects before they have to be charged beyond the current 28 days but did...   (Associated Press)

Gordon Brown embarked today for his first call on President Bush, while the press at home speculated on whether the green PM's relationship with his counterpart was cooling or too warm. Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, had a close relationship with Bush—too close for some UK observers. Iraq, a potential wedge issue, will be on the crowded agenda.

Brown, backed by public approval of his handling of recent terror plots in London and Glasgow, has a reputation for intellect where Blair relied on charisma, raising doubts about his chemistry with the Bush. Brown said he was optimistic about the future of Britain's 'most important bilateral relationship,' and denied talk of a rift. (More Gordon Brown stories.)

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