LONDON -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown might have been excused for savoring the sweetest moment of his political career yesterday evening. By the time the final slaps on the back had been delivered and the G-20 world leaders had left London, Brown's stock had never been higher. It had been his crisis summit. And at first glance, it was a success, as summits go. For 24 hours, Brown had enjoyed what for him has become the unusual comfort of high praise, luxuriating in the warm words of fellow leaders. And none were warmer than those of the undoubted superstar of the show, U.S. President Barack Obama. The perceived slights that Brown had suffered when he visited the White House last month had become a distant memory. But all good things must come to an end. No sooner had the fleet of planes lumbered into the night sky with their VIP cargoes than a new question was being mooted. Yes, the summit had gone well, yes Brown had shone and, yes, his political stock had no doubt risen on the domestic market. But what, asked the unkind pundits, would he he do for an encore?
Curtain Falls on G-20 Political Theater
