On January 29, 2010, in testimony before the inquiry into the U.K.’s involvement in the war in Iraq, former Prime Minister Tony “Blair said he believed ‘beyond doubt’ his controversial pre-war claim that Iraq was capable of launching chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes and said concern over Iraq’s ambitions to develop weapons of mass destruction had been the main factor behind Britain’s decision to back the war. But he admitted Washington and London had different views, with the U.S. favoring regime change to overthrow Saddam Hussein as the main justification for war.”
– “Blair: No ‘Covert’ Deal with Bush over Iraq,” CNN.com, Jan. 29, 2010