Mr Prescott's bruising experience has taught him a hard lesson: that pre-election de-centralisation rhetoric does not impress battle-hardened Whitehall mandarins, who instinctively resist any attempt to encroach on their territory.

ECONOMIST: Regional development: Whitehall rules | The

Only this week the 22-year-old was confirmed as one of the star attractions at the pre-Wimbledon tournament at Eastbourne, but now faces a battle to clear his name.

CNN: Gasquet suspended by Tennis Federation

The president, however, is coming under intense pressure from various sources, notably British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the State Department and the Congress, to deny the Pentagon the pre-eminent role it has earned with the development and execution of a brilliant battle plan for toppling Saddam.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Winning the peace

Their performance brought to an end what has been a three year battle for Griffin, as his funds clawed their way back to pre-recession high-water marks.

FORBES: Ken Griffin

But Mr Weizman's long, hard battle to secure resources for his pilots was vindicated in the 1967 war, when pre-emptive Israeli air strikes demolished the Egyptian air force on the ground, securing a stunningly rapid victory.

ECONOMIST: Obituary

Brawn shocked F1 by turning up at the final pre-season test in 2009 with a car that was nearly a second faster than anything else after a battle to survive following the withdrawal of former owner Honda.

BBC: Ross Brawn says top Formula 1 teams are closely matched