By Tarik Hamdi, IOL Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON, March 18 (IslamOnline.net) - Tony Blair has further demonstrated his utmost loyalty to George Bush in agreeing that the United States military should administer a post-Saddam Iraq before handing the country over to the United Nations.

Blair, who met with Bush on Thursday, March 27, at a working dinner at Camp David, declared his support for Washington's plans to install General by Jay Garner, a retired general who heads the Pentagon's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, as civil governor for the country in the short term. Garner is known for his pro-Israeli stance.

Blair and Bush agreed that a new UN Security Council resolution would be needed to authorize an interim UN administration and release funds for reconstruction - but only after the military situation stabilized.

The talks came amid growing controversy over the extent to which the UN should be involved in Iraq even during the conflict and, more importantly, once the fighting is over.

No Mood To Go Back To The UN

Blair was straightforward that the present of French and Russian also means that Britain and the U.S. are in no mood to go back to the UN.

Before he flew to Washington, Blair had told the House of Commons that the interim arrangements for Iraq had to be robust enough to ensure that American and British troops did not give their lives in vain.

He had also stated that a new UN resolution for reconstruction was less of a priority than a resolution giving Kofi Annan, the secretary general, power to run Iraq's oil-for-food program using revenue from its oil sales.

The Security Council, which remains divided over the legitimacy of the Anglo-American attack on Iraq, is struggling to agree a resolution authorizing Annan to resume the program after its suspension 10 days ago.

The issue is that under Geneva Conventions, the occupying force is responsible for civil welfare. In this case, however, Bush and Blair want to use Iraq’s oil to pay for the occupation. Russia and Syria have balked on sovereignty grounds, noting that, for now, the Iraqi government remains in place. With some French backing, the two governments also fear that approving the resolution would confer some legitimacy on the Anglo-American invasion.

The hardliners in Bush administration do not want any UN involvement in Iraq once the conflict is over. The Bush camp is well stuffed with oil and business interests and giving the UN a role would also mean allowing the French and Russians to benefit from lucrative reconstruction contracts.

However, Blair insisted on Thursday that Bush himself was committed to a UN administration at some point.

Interestingly, Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State, was seen as sympathetic to the British plan for the UN to play a central role in the running of post-war Iraq. In doing so, Powell was facing stiff opposition from the Washington hawks including Donald Rumsfeld, the Defense Secretary, who wants the Pentagon to be in the driving seat.

But at Camp David, the prime minister announced that he and the president had decided to seek new UN resolutions on humanitarian relief, a postwar administration for Iraq and a promise to keep Iraq's territorial boundaries intact.

There are striking similarities. Bush has turned hard-line Christian from being an alcohol and drug addict, and Blair had enthusiastically embraced the Catholic faith of his wife. The relationship between the two has produced agreements even in instances where their foreign policy positions were in conflict.

The war has given Bush and Blair common goals and challenges. In Blair, Bush gets a powerful Western military partner who has experience in colonizing the Muslim world. Blair, in return, gets support from the world's foremost superpower.

There are indications that once Iraq is occupied, Blair may offer Europe an olive branch by agreeing a referendum over joining the Euro-bloc. Also, the close embrace of America may propel Europe to reconsider a more stronger Britain.