no, really. we made the whole thing up
seems the bush administration asked the blair administration to come up with some justification (any justification) for a war in iraq. and they knew they had a weak case going in.
Blair plays down new Iraq claims [bbc, 2005.05.01]The Sunday Times has published what it says is a leaked memo dated 23 July 2002 by Matthew Rycroft, a former Downing Street foreign policy aide.
In the memo, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw is quoted as saying US President George Bush had “made up his mind to take military action even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin”.
It adds: “Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran.
“We should work up a plan for an ultimatum to Saddam to allow back in the UN weapons inspectors. This would help with the legal justification for the use of force.”
well played, good man! well played!