If their plummeting poll ratings are any indication, Iraq seems to have become a millstone around the necks of US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
'Bush approval rating hits new low,' says a USA Today headline, noting that at 31 per cent, it was 'the lowest of his presidency and a warning sign for Republicans in the November elections.'
'Poll Gives Bush Worst Marks Yet on Major Issues' agrees The New York Times, citing the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Bush's closest ally in the war against terror and the attack on Iraq, Blair is also battling the odds. A poll conducted by YouGov for The Daily Telegraph suggests only 26 per cent voters are satisfied
This has obviously led to a battle for leadership of the Labour Party, which Blair is struggling to contain and check.
Significantly, while there were other issues, most polls suggest that the decision to invade, and then stay on, in Iraq was a decisive factor in the slide in popularity for both leaders.
Lack of trust was another.
As the Galveston County Daily News put it, it's been a A bad Blair day for the President.
