Bush, Blair planned Iraq war from start: The Public and Private Faces

• Originally published in the Times Newspapers Limited, May 2, 2005 Copyright 2005 Times Newspapers Limited The Times (London)

Downing Street memo of Prime Minister's meeting on Iraq, July 23, 2002.

* Jack Straw: "It seemed clear that Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran"

* Conclusions of the Iraq meeting: "We should work on the assumption that the UK would take part in any military action...CDS (Chief of Defence Staff) should tell the US military that we were considering a range of options"

Tony Blair, July 16, 2002:

* Tony Blair, replying to questions on preparing for military action against Iraq: "No, there are no decisions which have been taken about military action"

* July 17, 2003, at Question Time: "However, we will make sure that whatever we do, as I say constantly no decisions have yet been taken, should be in accordance with international law"

* July 24, Question Time: "As I have already said, we have not taken the decision to commit British forces"

* July 25, press conference: "I actually think we are all getting a bit ahead of ourselves on the issue of Iraq. As I have said before, action is not imminent; we are not at the point of decision"