The Memo Comes In From the Cold

One tiny excerpt from the long brawl:

"Q Is that to say that the White House will not allow those names to be made public?

"MR. McCLELLAN: It's a jurisdictional matter, and like I said, it was understood. I mean, I think it --

"Q Is that a 'yes' or a 'no,' Scott?

"MR. McCLELLAN: I think it was understood --

"Q How is it a jurisdictional matter, for god's sake?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- that that information would not be part of the report. But the Inspector General had access to the information he needed to complete his report."

Poll Watch

Dana Milbank and Claudia Deane write in The Washington Post: "For the first time since the war in Iraq began, more than half of the American public believes the fight there has not made the United States safer, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

"While the focus in Washington has shifted from the Iraq conflict to Social Security and other domestic matters, the survey found that Americans continue to rank Iraq second only to the economy in importance -- and that many are losing patience with the enterprise. . . .

"Perhaps most ominous for President Bush, 52 percent said war in Iraq has not contributed to the long-term security of the United States, while 47 percent said it has. It was the first time a majority of Americans disagreed with the central notion Bush has offered to build support for war: that the fight there will make Americans safer from terrorists at home."

Here are the complete results .

For the first time, none of Bush's specific approval ratings were over 50 percent, not even for the war on terror, which has been Bush's ace in the hole -- as high as 92 percent in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and still at a very healthy 61 percent as recently as January of this year.

And asked if they thought Bush has done more to unite or divide the country, 43 percent said unite; 55 percent said divide.

Blair's Agenda I

Lest we forget, Blair was in town yesterday to get Bush to make some concessions on two issues dear to the British leader's heart: Africa and global warming. He largely struck out.

Jim VandeHei writes in The Washington Post that Bush and Blair "agreed yesterday to increase financial assistance to developing African nations suffering from famine, AIDS and war. But the two leaders parted ways over how much money rich nations should provide to Africa and how they should ease global warming."

Paul Koring writes in Toronto's Globe and Mail: "Seeking billions in debt relief for Africa, newly re-elected British Prime Minister Tony Blair had to settle yesterday for extravagantly wrapped morsels of food aid and vague promises of more to come from U.S. President George W. Bush. . . .

"Both men gushed about their close relationship, but a clear and yawning gap remained in their positions over both aid to Africa and global warming. Mr. Blair wants massive action on both now; Mr. Bush remains unconvinced."

There was what appeared to be one concession on Bush's part, but it's still unclear how significant that will be.

Caroline Daniel, Ben Hall and Chris Giles write in the Financial Times: "President George W. Bush yesterday paved the way for an agreement on multilateral debt relief for Africa when in a change of tack he promised 'additional resources' would be made available to the World Bank. . . .

"Mr Bush's comments about new resources mark a concession by the US which had previously wanted to cancel the debt without replenishing World Bank funds."

Sarah Left writes in the Guardian that aid agencies "said yesterday's announcement marked the first time that Mr Bush had conceded that debt cancellation must be financed through additional funds rather than existing aid budgets, which would cut payments to African countries."

But Steve Holland and Mike Peacock , writing for Reuters, note at least one possible loophole: "Both leaders said only those countries who stamped out corruption would benefit. Bush said 'highly indebted developing countries that are on the path to reform should not be burdened by mountains of debt.'

" 'I see we've got a fantastic opportunity, presuming that the countries in Africa make the right decisions. Nobody wants to give money to a country that's corrupt, where leaders take money and put it in their pocket,' Bush said."

Blair's Agenda II

On climate change, Blair got no concessions at all.

Fiona Harvey and Ben Hall writes in the Financial Times: "Mr Bush appeared to suggest he still had doubts about the scientific evidence behind global warning.

" 'We need to know more about it,' he said. 'It's a lot easier to solve when you know more about it.' "

Meanwhile, as Miguel Bustillo writes in the Los Angeles Times: "The National Academy of Sciences and 10 similar organizations from some of the world's most powerful nations released a statement Tuesday calling for a stronger international response to global warming, arguing there is now more than enough evidence of a changing climate to justify taking immediate action."

Here's that statement .

Today's Calendar

Bush met this morning with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Also today, he speaks about Social Security before a meeting of builders and contractors at the Capital Hilton, sits down for an interview with Neil Cavuto of Fox News to be shown this afternoon, and meets with Republican congressional leaders.

Tonight he is scheduled to watch "Cinderella Man" at the White House. That has a happy ending, right?