England ? Prime Minister Tony Blair, in his final address to his governing Labour Party, said Tuesday that being the United States’ strongest ally can be difficult but it is crucial to stay close to Washington in the fight against terrorism.

The man who walked on stage in Manchester looked far different from the fresh-faced 41-year-old who took over the party in 1994. His hair is shot with gray, and the lines on his face are more pronounced – reflecting a turbulent 12 years that have seen British troops sent into battle in Iraq and Afghanistan, and suicide terror attacks on British soil.

This speech – his last to the Labour Party faithful as leader- was a chance for the prime minister to secure his legacy, to remind his detractors of his accomplishments and to urge his party to stay on course when he leaves office sometime in the next year.