On this occasion, Senate traditions prevailed: Mr Specter got the job based on seniority but not before having to eat his words and kow-tow to all and sundry.
In this respect, Mr Blair's latest triumph in the Middle East merely reinforces the impression that he created during last February's confrontation with Iraq over the United Nations' weapons inspectors namely that Britain's first instinct in foreign affairs is to kow-tow to the United States even if this means rowing with Britain's own partners in Europe.