In what can only be described as a spectacular own goal for the Trump administration, the US House of Representatives has voted to restrain the President's warmongering tendencies against Iran. The resolution, which passed with bipartisan support, demands that any military action be authorised by Congress, effectively slamming the brakes on the White House's joyride to war. But the real kicker, the thing that has Whitehall mandarins smirking into their Earl Grey, is the quiet but decisive role played by British diplomacy.
Yes, it appears that Her Majesty's Government, with all the subtlety of a bulldog in a china shop, managed to convince their American cousins that bombing Iran would be, how shall we put it, 'rather bad form'. The resolution is a stinging rebuke to the President, a man who treats foreign policy like a game of golf: reckless, self-indulgent, and with an alarming tendency to hit civilians.
The timing is exquisite. Just as the world braced for the sound of bombs and the sight of flag-draped coffins, the House yanked the leash. The resolution, titled 'No War with Iran', is a masterclass in parliamentary procedure, a document that basically says: 'Slow your roll, cowboy.'
Critics, of course, will moan that this is a toothless gesture, a symbolic handbag-waving that does nothing to stop a President who has the attention span of a gnat and the temperament of a toddler denied a second biscuit. They may have a point. But let us not underestimate the power of a good humiliating vote. In the pantheon of presidential put-downs, this ranks up there with being told your tie is silly at a G7 summit.
The victory for British diplomacy is particularly delicious. For years, the UK has been the loyal sidekick, the Robin to America's Batman, the cucumber sandwich to its hamburger. But here, in the hallowed halls of Congress, the BoJo government pulled off a coup. They whispered in the ears of key Republicans, they poured honeyed words into the ears of Democratic leaders, and they did it all while sipping tea and looking terribly polite. It is the diplomatic equivalent of a sucker punch disguised as a firm handshake.
Of course, the President will rage. He will tweet. He will probably blame Obama. But the damage is done. The House has spoken, and its message is clear: No more wars for the sake of ratings. No more bombing campaigns to distract from impeachment proceedings. No more outsourcing foreign policy to the highest-bidding defence contractor.
For now, the sabres are sheathed. The bombs stay in their bays. The blood of innocent Iranians is not on American hands. And somewhere in the Foreign Office, a mandarin is opening a very nice bottle of port.
