Rumors of the prime minister's premature retirement were, in fact, greatly exaggerated:

The government today comfortably won a vote on Iraq at its Bournemouth conference - after a two hour debate which saw pro-war delegates outnumber and out-clap critics by about two to one.

...For the government, Ann Clywd, the prime minister's human rights envoy in Iraq, broke down in tears as she described the sight of 10,000 skeletons in a mass grave in Iraq she witnessed earlier this summer.

She received a standing ovation from around one third of the closely split audience when she concluded: "I believe Tony was right to end the evil that was Saddam Hussein."

Not only has Tony Blair removed the threat of losing office, he's ably convinced a majority of political allies and rivals to help keep Britain on course. The speeches he made were among his finest. A skilled politician and national leader, on the right side of history, wins again.