PM makes 21-hour return journey across the Atlantic in search of a solution to Saddam

When Tony Blair joined the Queen at Crathie kirk in the Scottish Highlands yesterday, frantic talk of nuclear threats, rogue states and regime change must have seemed a world away.

After a 7,000-mile day-trip to meet President George Bush for a summit on Iraq, the combination of royal protocol and the chance for gentle reflection offered by the church stood in contrast to the Prime Minister's talks in Camp David.

His brief stay at Balmoral, where he was joined by his wife, Cherie, and four children, afforded sanctuary after globetrotting that has seen him visit South Africa, Sweden, Spain and the United States in less than a week.

Yet even as he sat with the congregation in the narrow pews, Mr Blair's thoughts were forced on to world events again as the moderator led prayers for "all those who suffered on September 11".

With potentially stormy TUC and Labour conferences ahead of him, Mr Blair must have been hoping last night that his lightning trip to Washington had, in his own phrase, got him "to first base" in convincing doubters at home and abroad.

Less than 24 hours earlier, he had flown from London for his third meeting with Mr Bush on American soil, armed with the latest British intelligence on the Baghdad regime. More than 18 months had passed since the first, infamous "Colgate" meeting between the Prime Minister and the President at Camp David, during which the American leader revealed he and the PM shared a ring of confidence, if not the same tooth mug.

When the Boeing 777 flight touched down at Andrews air force base near Washington at 2.35pm local time, Mr Blair was greeted by Sir Christopher Meyer, our man in Washington, and ushered past the obligatory Stars and Stripes and Union flags. As he entered the military complex, for a quick change from a suit into country casuals, the screens in the arrivals lounge were full of that inimitable, jarring mix of the light and the serious at which American television excels.

Beside adverts for body toners and miracle diet juices ran trailers for 11 September documentaries with titles such as Triumph of Spirit and The Day America Changed.

Coverage of Andre Agassi thrashing Lleyton Hewitt in the US Open tennis was interrupted for a news item on the "Briddish PM's" visit and the fight against "the Butcher of Baghdad". Right on cue, Mr Blair reappeared to head off in the Air Force One helicopter to Camp David.

After the 45-minute ride into the Maryland hills, his helicopter accompanied by a decoy, the Prime Minister was met by the President.

But back at Andrews, the British media, already briefed by Mr Blair on the plane about possible nuclear threats to Britain, was stunned by a Fox TV strapline: "Iraq to have nuclear weapons in six months". Those present were led to assume that Armageddon was around the corner. Again, however, before anyone had a chance to panic, the realisation dawned that the report referred to a 1991 story about Saddam Hussein.

Despite the seriousness at hand, the leaders' brief press conference offered vintage Bushisms. The President talked of US [sic] resolutions against Saddam, nearly forgot that Hawaii was part of the US and had trouble with the International Atomic Energy Agency. "A report came out of the Atomic ... the International ... the IAEA," he said.

He said it was "awfully thoughtful of Tony to come over here" and repeatedly urged his buddy to pick questions from reporters: "Wanna call on somebody? You don't have to if you don't want to," the President said, as if Mr Blair had never met the press before.

After their previous meetings, observers had realised that this "special relationship" was more of an arranged marriage than a love match. From their body language yesterday, with Mr Blair nervous and Mr Bush self-assured, it seemed more than ever to be a business arrangement. A trained barrister, the Prime Minister looked like a smooth, nervy East Coast lawyer hired to ensure his, er, idiosyncratic, but hugely powerful client didn't incriminate himself.

The President's lawyer in the court of world opinion, the British leader would use the fancy-pants words, but Mr Bush was the one who was ready to act.

Mr Blair seemed relieved when the media briefing ended. "Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you, thanks," the President said.

The pair then headed straight off for three hours of talks at Laurel Cabin. Unlike their cosier meeting in February 2001, this time there were no meet-the-parents films, no wives, no walks with the President's dog Spot, no idle chats about baseball around the log fires.

For the first 90 minutes, Mr Blair had only Sir David Manning, his foreign policy adviser, alongside him as he met the President, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Adviser, in a small side room. Significantly, unnamed senior military officers were also present. Iraq and detailed regime-change plans were discussed at this meeting.

The session was then widened to include the Downing Street entourage and senior American officials such as Andrew Card, the President's Chief of Staff, and William Farish, the US ambassador in London. Shoring up President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process, and details of a dossier against President Saddam and a new United Nations resolution, were discussed.

The gathering ended with a working dinner consisting of tortilla soup, grilled swordfish and saffron pearl pasta. Crawfish was not on the menu.

When Mr Blair arrived back at Andrews air force base at 1.10am British time, the full gravity of the meeting was etched into his face. His tone was his most sombre yet when talking of the need to tackle President Saddam.

As the Prime Minister headed up the steps of the plane for his journey back to Blighty, he could see the yellow-blue afterburn of two F15s heading off the runway and into the night.

Back in Scotland yesterday, he left church preparing to draw up the UN resolution that could force Iraq to disarm. But though he would prefer to preach on how blessed are the peace-makers, Mr Blair would have been more than aware of one of Mr Bush's, and Winston Churchill's, favourite hymns: "Onward Christian Soldiers".

* Saddam Hussein met Osama bin Laden on two occasions and gave money to the al-Qa'ida leader, according to a woman who claims to have been President Saddam's mistress for 30 years. Parisoula Lampsos, 54, told ABC News that she saw Mr bin Laden in one of the Iraqi leader's palaces in the late 1980s. She said President Saddam's oldest son, Uday, told her that his father also met Mr bin Laden in 1996 and gave him money.

Ms Lampsos also said the Iraqi leader tried to have Uday assassinated because he was worried he would try to remove him from power.

To Camp David and back in a day

11.55am BST Saturday: Tony Blair leaves Heathrow.

7.35pm (2.35pm local): Arrives at Andrews air force base, Washington.

8pm: Departs in helicopter for Camp David.

8.45pm: Arrives at Camp David.

8.55pm: Press briefing with George Bush.

9.10pm: Talks start.

10.40pm: Talks widen to include more junior staff.

11.30pm (6.30pm local): Working dinner.

12.20am: Mr Blair leaves Camp David.

1.10am: Returns to Andrews air force base.

1.15am: Gives solo press conference to British media.

2.12am: Departs Andrews for the UK.

8.55am (Sunday): Arrives at Aberdeen.