WASHINGTON, 31 July 2007 — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrived by helicopter at Camp David after severe local thunderstorms gave way to sunshine, and he emerged to find a military honor guard and President George Bush waiting for him. Bush drove the two of them away in a golf cart, marked, “Golf Cart One,” after doing a playful 360-degree maneuver in front of the gathered media.

Brown arrived in the US Sunday as part of his first major overseas tour since succeeding Tony Blair a month ago. Brown, yet unknown to Americans, is described as a somewhat dour Scotsman not noted for his sense of humor — and almost certainly is not looking for the type of backslapping camaraderie that once prompted Bush to disclose after his first meeting with former Prime Minister Blair that they both used the same brand of toothpaste.

Brown has reason to encourage a respectful distance. A survey Friday by the YouGov polling organization noted that 71 percent of British voters want to see more distance between their prime minister and the US president.

Timing being everything, a London newspaper reported — while Brown was flying across the Atlantic to meet with Bush — that an aide to the prime minister had discussed with his counterparts in the Bush administration the possibility of an early British military withdrawal of some, if not all, of the 5,500 troops it has in Iraq.

If accurate, the report is almost certain to infuriate high officials in the Bush administration, who clearly want Britain to continue to remain part of the “coalition of the willing” in Iraq.

In a press briefing at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, midday yesterday, the two leaders said they had discussed a range of issues, centering on the Iraq crisis, but also covering Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Darfur region of Sudan, Kosovo, world trade talks and climate change. “We had a really casual and good discussion,” Bush told reporters. The leaders spent two hours talking in private last night, said Bush. He noted that the rest of the delegation went bowling, ruefully noting the US was not winning.

On a more serious note, Bush expressed gratitude for the assistance of British military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Success in Afghanistan and Iraq will be an integral part of defeating an enemy and helping people realize the great blessings of liberty as the alternative to an ideology of darkness that spreads its murder to achieve its objectives,” he said.

In addition to the war efforts, Bush said they discussed humanitarian affairs, including efforts to eradicate poverty and HIV/AIDS. The leaders talked about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the genocide in Darfur, he said.

“I’m pleased to report that this relationship will be a constructive, strategic relationship for the good of our peoples,” Bush said.

Brown denied suggestions that his view of terrorism differed greatly from that of Bush. “We know we are in a common struggle, we know we have to work together, and we know we have to deal with it,” Brown told reporters.

“Today in 2007 we see the challenges are radically different to 10 years ago,” Brown added, citing climate change, Africa, and the search for a Middle East peace process as key issues. Brown said decisions about the future use of British military forces in Iraq will be based on the recommendations of his commanders in the field.

“Afghanistan is the front line against terrorism,” Brown said. “And as we have done twice in the last year, where there are more forces needed to back up the coalition and NATO effort, they have been provided by the United Kingdom.”

Bush spoke warmly of the so-called “special relationship” with the UK, describing it as “our most important bilateral relationship” — the same term used by Brown ahead of his trip to the US.

The president said he found Brown a warm, humorous man, far removed from the “dour Scotsman” image sometimes portrayed by the media. He also paid tribute to Brown’s personal strength in overcoming the death of his first child in 2002.

Prime Minister Brown has been described as a longtime student of American politics, and his reading material is called eclectic. He is said to currently be reading books by both Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Vice President Al Gore’s “The Assault on Reason,” which argues that Bush is out of touch with reality. Brown visited other officials yesterday before heading to New York, where he will speak at the UN and hold a series of meetings there.