I feel that politicians in Canada, the UK and perhaps in Australia at times have claimed a "Special Relationship" with the USA as a sop to the masses. Some might even believe that there is such a thing but its existance is a national delusion perpetuated for political reason at home and abroad.
Self-interest is at the root of any effective foreign policy and any percieved "Special Relationship" with America (or any other sovereign independant nation-state) exists only as long as the side with the whip hand makes it so.
Blair could easily have kept the UK out of Iraq militarily and probably not caused any negative long term Anglo-American issues since bilateral self-interest trumps hurt feelings every time. In the worst case the city fathers of Lake Havasu AZ might have renamed historic London Bridge and "Freedom Bridge" or some similar jingoistic moniker.
Unless the long-term strategic goal was to restore UK political power east of Suez, his reaction throughout 2002-03 did bare more than a superficial resemblance to that of vassel state striving to prove worthy of the master.
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