MANHATTAN, Kan., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush says the relationship he has developed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair is "historic," and they talk on the telephone weekly.
Bush made the remarks at a town hall meeting Monday at Kansas State University, after a British woman told Bush many people in Britain see Blair as a "yes-man" to Washington.
Bush responded that he was aware of the criticism, and said "it's just simply not the case" that Blair follows his every lead.
"Frankly, it's demeaning to his character and his strength of conviction," Bush said. "But I think I would classify our relationship as historic."
Bush gave examples of disagreements over the Kyodo protocol, which Blair endorses, and Bush kept the United States out of, as well as the U.S. refusal to join the international criminal court.
Calling Blair "a person of great courage" and "an independent thinker," Bush said it wasn't widely known, but that the two leaders talk by telephone once a week when possible.
