"The senator does not reflect the ideals upon which this university was founded," she said, to a roaring ovation.

"The senator does not reflect the ideals upon which this university was founded," Ms. Rohe said, adding: "I am young, and although I don't profess to possess the wisdom that time affords us, I do know that pre-emptive war is dangerous and wrong."

The Democratic senator from Illinois reflects on life as the son of a black African father and white American mother.

But for nearly an hour last week, the senator sat in his sun-dappled office and reflected on elections past and future, assessing the Democratic field as well as the man whose ride to the White House he once hoped to derail, President Bush.

I hope American senators will reflect on Britain's experience.

"I enjoy my job," the senator reflected this week.

I hope that the senator in particular and his colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives will reflect very carefully on what I said.