We Deserve the Truth

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Just before the Iraq war one commentator joked there was no way Saddam Hussein could have chemical and biological weapons - for if he did it would be suicidal to attack him.

But fresh claims the Government exaggerated intelligence reports on weapons of mass destruction in order to cajole the country into conflict are far from funny.

What ministers are claimed to have done - at worst misled parliament - must be seen in the context of the mood at the time.

Before the war public opinion was finely balanced. While the Prime Minister was determined to support the US-led invasion of Iraq, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against war and large parts of …