However, the hope of rallying unhappy jihadis to a platform of conservative Islam and past glories proved short-lived when Mr Fahim losthisnerve after a quiet chat with America's Central Intelligence Agency.
Most political editors were forced to write hurried articles about how the prime minister had intended to make much bigger changes but losthis nerve or how the promised drama would indeed happen in the winter.
But had Andy Barnes, then the Times Publishing chairman and chief executive, losthisnerve or made a fatal misstep in the fight with Bass, you can bet that the Times wouldn't be independently owned and operated as it is today.