Bush and Brown Project Unity at Talks

resident Bush and his new British counterpart, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, pledged today to continue their close trans-Atlantic relations that have been a crucial pillar of international support for Mr. Bush as he pushes an unpopular war in Iraq and a continuing campaign in Afghanistan.

Since Mr. Brown became prime minister in June, questions have been raised on both sides of the Atlantic about whether he would distance himself from Mr. Bush, whose closeness to Mr. Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair, became a political liability at home. Today’s visit was being watched closely for evidence of any geopolitical space between the two heads of state. They showed none. NY Times