Indeed as you say Carrots, if the material is suspected of being there and means to produce it, then future developement has to be taken into account when evaluating the potential threat. With the stuff we are talking about you do not, you dare not, wait until the weapon is fully developed. It must also be remembered that Saddam Hussein was unique amongst the national leaders of the world in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11th, 2001 - He was the only one who publicly applauded the attacks. All the dots relating to the posture and potential capability of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, developement of WMD and sponsorship of terrorist groups had been highlighted and jointed together three years before, certainly before GWB won the 2000 Presidential Election.

Imagination combined with common sense is essential in any threat evaluation process, because the element of prediction of future realistic possibilities needs to be taken into account.

Robin Cook's education was in English Literature and his working experience was that gained as a party worker. Tony Blair's on the other hand was in Law and through working as a Barrister. Those Carrots are extremely distinct and significant differences.

It would come as no surprise to you at all in that I completely disagree with you on the following point. Both of us, primarily because of our backgrounds, would have got more out of a briefing by Sir John Scarlett than either Robin Cook, or Tony Blair ever could. I am certain that we both would have asked far tougher, and far more probing questions.