BRITAIN: And, with one bound, he was free? Tony Blair has rounded off a bad week with a flourish. Frank Millar wonders whether the British prime minister has put his troubles behind him
Tony is good. Tony is strong. Tony's resolved to go on and on.
That has been the insistent, and slightly triumphalist, message from Downing Street this week as Mr Blair celebrated his 10th anniversary as Labour leader. And, as if to ram home the point that he can still do pretty much as he likes, the Prime Minister chose to cap his own perceived return to form by announcing Peter Mandelson's remarkable political comeback.
The caveat is deliberately entered. For if the rumours are true, then Mr Mandelson's appointment as the UK's European Commissioner might actually be seen as a measure of Mr Blair's reduced authority. Those inclined to this view will also think it reinforced by the mystery of the cabinet reshuffle that never happened.
Officials were plainly telling the truth when they said they could not be sure that it would happen, or when, because the prime minister had not decided.
However it was pencilled-in for Wednesday, and then for Friday. The impression meanwhile was allowed to grow that Mr Blair was actively considering restoring the twice-resigned minister to the cabinet table. In consequence it has been reported that the very idea provoked furious rows inside government, with unnamed senior ministers strongly opposing Mr Mandelson's return to the front-line of British politics. The belief that it must be so was strengthened further by Thursday night's reports that Mr Mandelson himself was in agony about accepting that his Westminster career was at an end. And the seeming clinching argument was then provided by the news that Chancellor Brown - who has never forgiven Mandelson for backing Blair for the leadership - had not opposed his transfer to Brussels.
So a bitter-sweet return then for Mr Mandelson, and a partial victory for the Chancellor? Maybe, maybe not. When Downing Street finally signalled there would be no reshuffle, it was explained that Mr Blair was in a strong position, was generally happy with the cabinet's performance and therefore felt no need to shuffle the pack. However, when asked about Mr Mandelson's reported agony of indecision as between Brussels and Westminster, one well placed Whitehall source suggested that Mr Mandelson had to decide on just one job offer.
In other words, a reshuffle would only have been necessary had Mr Mandelson declined and Mr Blair been forced to seek another heavyweight nominee from within the cabinet - but it had never been planned with Mr Mandelson's return to cabinet in mind.
This might have been a case of "spin" designed to cover Mr Blair's embarrassing failure to bring Mandelson back into the government he feels he should never have been required to leave in the first place. However it might also be the truth, and it certainly chimes with what we previously thought we knew.
There is no doubt Mr Mandelson felt badly done by over the Hinduja's access-for-passports "scandal" and would have returned to cabinet feeling properly vindicated.
However "friends" of the former minister were letting it be known over recent months that he was also interested in the Commissioner's job. In the way that these things become known, it was also reported - seemingly reliably - that Mr Brown was against him having it.
All of which prompts one of the closest observers of New Labour's personality faultlines to wonder if the 'Mandelson headed for cabinet return' story might in fact have been a put-up job - an elaborate exercise in political management designed to force the Chancellor's acquiescence to his appointment to Brussels.
Confused? Well, that is the effect of too much spin.
But it is always worth remembering that things are never quite what they seem with New Labour. Which prompts this correspondent to sign-off on this political season just wondering about the actual basis of a political recovery which now permits Mr Blair to taunt Mr Brown with his apparent determination to serve a full third term.
Is Mr Blair really as safe as he suddenly appears? Is the war - in Iraq, and in Britain's ruling party - really fully behind him? Are he and Peter Mandelson the men most likely to shift British public opinion on all things European? And is Gordon Brown now resigned to the denial of his ambitions for the life of another parliament?
It is a long way still to the autumn.