"Defence secretary John Reid certainly made an impression on his last trip to the United States.
At a presentation for American military top brass, Reid thought be would warm up his audience with a joke. Following Condoleezza Rice's trip to Britain, the minister quoted a few of the more lurid tabloid headlines about Rice's love-in with her opposite number Jack Straw.
"This is exactly the kind of special relationship Tony wants us to strike up with our American counterparts," Reid explained, "which is why as soon as this meeting is over, I'll be taking Donald Rumsfeld to the cinema to see Brokeback Mountain with me."
Rumsfeld's face had to be seen to be believed."
Private Eye, 28th April
