Meeting with world leaders, including the President, the head of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and UN Secretary General: Ban Kai-moon, the Prime Minister seemed at home in the halls of power.

Importantly, President George W. made every effort to overcome any suspicion that he would have preferred John Howard was returned at the last election, saying that Mr Rudd’s plan to withdraw troops from Iraq was a sign of both military success and strength of the Prime Minister’s character.

Mr Bush went as far in his endorsement of Mr Rudd’s leadership as to say that the Australian leader’s plan was no different from his own intention to withdraw US forces from Iraq.

Both men were eager to play down their individual roles in maintaining the alliance but where the President famously called John Howard a “man of steel” and designated him an honorary Texan, he dubbed Mr Rudd a “fine lad”.

But was K-Rudd a “man of steel”? 

Dubya - “yeah, heck yeah!”

.... Believable.