" OK then John, what pushes it totally beyond the bounds of possibility that Saddam would not attempt a strike at the USA in a similar fashion excepting that this time WMD (either chemical or biological) would be added to the equation to increase the number killed. I mean it is not as though he had any qualms about using those kind of weapons on harmless civilians is it?"

As you well know this is pure speculation Teribus, and NOT a basis for a cogent defence as to why we went to war with Iraq. Blair's constant repetition of the fact we should consider the "2010 question" (got to be Alistair Campbell behind that one) was a diverting tactic that worked a treat on the sops that were supposed to be questioning him.

I sat through the entire day and Blair gave a textbook barristers performance, only really faltering when the question of the legality of the war was raised. There's no doubt this is a problem for Blair and Goldsmith etc, as it's difficult not to come to the conclusion that pretty much everyone (including Goldsmith himself) thought the war was illegal. For some reason the inquiry didn't winkle out exactly why Goldsmith changed his mind and is now being painted as the fall guy for the entire venture. Blair even had the neck to shove all the responsibility for the decision onto his hapless colleague suggesting had Goldsmith stuck to his guns and said the war wasn't legal then he wouldn't have continued with the venture. This statement sits in contrast to the rest of his evidence where he is remarkably robust in his attitude.

Blair is one of those people who has a 'reality distortion field' around him (the term was coined to describe the uncanny power Steve Jobs has to influence his cohorts), and his performance on front of the inquiry panel was an apt demonstration of this; he led the proceedings and pretty much controlled the proceedings, asking questions of the questioners and adroitly batting away awkward questions with aplomb. To those of us watching it looked like what it was: a charismatic, egocentric politician so mired in his own self-deception any hint of regret and contrition about the consequences of his actions don't occur to him. Obviously Goldsmith et al weren't immune either at the time, and at least he did manage to get a huge dig in at Clare Short who should have had the courage of her convictions and walked at the time.

Fascinating.