Hans Blix

"But tarring the Blix-led inspection mission ranked as a high priority for war enthusiasts on the Bush team who were eager to pressure Blix into becoming more confrontational with the Iraqi government …"

"It's true the Iraqis misbehaved and had no credibility but that doesn't necessarily mean that they were in the wrong."

"It was to do with information management. The intention was to dramatise it."

"There was a very consistent creation of a virtual reality, and eventually it collided with our old-fashioned, ordinary reality."

"I found it peculiar that those who wanted to take military action could — with 100 per cent certainty — know that the weapons existed and turn out to have zero knowledge of where they were."

"… there are people in this administration who say they don't care if the UN sinks under the East river, and other crude things…"

"Personally, Mr. Blix is amiable and has a sense of humor; politically he is weak and easily fooled. I can think of few European officials less suitable for a showdown with Saddam. Indeed, it is with u…"

"I have my detractors in Washington. There are bastards who spread things around, of course, who planted nasty things in the media."