Camp David, Md. ? Gordon Brown came to President Bush’s mountaintop retreat to get closer to the leader of Britain’s most valuable ally. But not too close.

Wary of ever becoming “Bush’s poodle,” as his predecessor Tony Blair was known to some critics, the prime minister confined talk of a close relationship to the one between the countries.

“I think we’re agreed that all challenges can best be met when together the United Kingdom and the United States work in a partnership,” Brown said.

Not exactly the chummy days of Bush and Blair, but it’s a start.

Over two days at the tranquil presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains, Brown and Bush sized each other up. They talked sports, family and history.

They emerged from their first substantive time together showing little space between them on the Iraq war and global crises, although the true tests will unfold in the coming months.

“He’s a glass-half-full man, not a glass-half-empty guy,” Bush said. He measured up Brown as a man of resolve, with a better sense of humor than he gets credit for.

Overall, Bush and Brown forged a unified stand on Iraq. Their public display of unity – tinged with some differences – aimed at heading off talk of a splintering partnership.