The choreography wasn't perfect. Iraq's Foreign Minister, Mr. Zebari let slip first thing this morning the news that it had been decided to bring forward the transfer of sovereignty to today. A slightly startled-looking Tony Blair then told me we could expect an announcement later on. Diplomats talk of an event in Baghdad at around lunchtime; Mr. Blair and George Bush are scheduled to do a joint press conference this afternoon. It's not hard therefore to work out how the day was meant to go.

In the end however perhaps the choreography doesn't matter as much as the story it's supposed to express. An impatient eager Iraqi administration telling America and Britain, 'bring it on!' and having their wish quickly granted.

In practice of course, without elections and dependent on coalition forces to stay in power holding down insurgency and terrorism, the Baghdad government is still at best a work-in-progress.