When Tony Blair preaches he is at his best and worst.

When he addressed conference and the nation on Tuesday he was preaching - and he was at his best.

Whilst Labour may not love him - they respect him. And with his platform speech he reinforced that respect - a major figure, as John Prescott pointed out, striding the world stage on our behalf.

The scene was set by Prescott - loyal deputy and true Labour at that - and rather than the usual PR puff big screen video introduction to the leader's speech it fell to the deputy leader to pave the way for his master.

"We meet in difficult and dangerous times," Prescott told the faithful. "At such times this party and this country realises the importance of leadership. At this time we have the right man in the right place."

But Blair - who plays the humble card well - strode on to that stage a more humble man than when he succeeded John Smith in 1994. Office had not humbled him - events had.

Reflecting on the gut-wrenching horror of the events on September 11, Blair reflected on how even he - the leader of a rich and free nation - had been powerless in the face of an international terror.

"And then a middle aged mother," said Blair "looks you in the eyes and tells you her only son has died and asks you 'why'. I tell you - you do not feel like the most powerful man in the country at times like that. Because thereis no answer. There is no justification to their pain."

Tears were visible in the hall - not just in the eyes of Blair either. The terror of September 11 is all too real and, as Blair stressed, we "are not going to walk away".

The evil deed has been done. Blair cannot undo it. But he "can", and as his steadfast speech illustrated, "will" seek to right this wrong.

Critics were given little houseroom in a speech dominated by internationalism which set the scene for a rapid response.

"This is a moment to seize. The kaleidoscope has been shaken. The pieces are in flux. Soon they will settle. Before they do let us re-order this world around us," said an unflinching Blair.

But how does Britain and the world respond people ask? Blair told them - directly.

"So what do we do. Don't over-react some say - we aren't. We haven't lashed out. No missiles on the first night just for effect. Don't kill innocent people. We are not the ones who waged war on the innocent - we seek the guilty."

Those calling for a diplomatic alternative to war were given short shrift. "Look for a diplomatic solution - there is no diplomacy with Bin Laden or the Taliban regime. State an ultimatum and get their response? We stated the ultimatum - they haven't responded."

But, to calm fears in Labour's grassroots, he stressed any response would be "proportionate; targeted". So was his speech - proportionate in reflecting all our horror at the events of September 11 - targeted towards a doubting nation to remind it where its loyalties must lie.

Moving on to the domestic debate on public services Blair seemed to lack the passion he showed about international events. He praised the public services - to dampened applause.

But in truth there is only one show in town - and even the conference had little interest in public services.

War against evil is imminent - and the leader has told us to prepare for it.