Gordon Carrera

It's very different.

And of course, you know, the other big difference is that the UK this time has made a very conscious decision.

We are not going to be involved in this operation.

And that again is such a shift from 2001, 2002, 2003, when Tony Blair felt we have to be in alongside the Americans.

The military wanted to do it.

The intelligence agencies want to do it.

in the current world, we've made a very conscious decision not to be alongside the Americans in this war.

And I think that tells you quite a lot about how the world and how Britain and America have changed since.

That's right.

I think that's a great place to close it with a just sense that this was one of the most consequential decisions that was taken and based on this intelligence failure.

So, well, we hope everyone who's been listening has enjoyed this deep dive into Iraq WMD.

A reminder, of course, that club members, you're going to be able to hear even more because you're going to be able to hear from some of the key players in these decisions, people who are in the room

At this interface between intelligence and politics, people like Mike Morrell, who eventually becomes an acting director of the CIA, Richard Dearlove, who was head of MI6 at the time, and one Alistair Campbell, who was Tony Blair's director of communications.

So it's a real chance to really explore this with key participants for our club members.

So do sign up at therestisclassified.com.

And of course, there's a live show.

september the 4th to 5th so do get your tickets for that but otherwise i guess um with zabiba in the king echoing in our minds and saddam's novels what is good was the last one called get out or something like that maybe that should be i believe it where i was get out get out damn one get out damn one maybe that's on that note let's get out we'll see you next time see you next time

I'm Gordon Carrera, national security journalist.

And I'm David McCloskey, author and former CIA analyst.

We are the hosts of The Rest Is Classified, and in our latest series, we are telling the true story of one of history's biggest intelligence failures, Iraq WMD.