Pilger claims White House knew Saddam was no threat: "after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11 that year, Pilger claimed Rice said the US 'must move to take advantage of these new opportunities' to attack Iraq and claim control of its oil. Pilger uncovered video footage of Powell in Cairo on February 24, 2001 saying, 'He (Saddam Hussein) has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbours.'"

"I think it's very serious for Howard. Howard has followed the Americans and to a lesser degree Blair almost word for word," Pilger [said] "All Howard does is say 'well it's not true' and never explains himself. I just don't believe you can be seen to be party to such a big lie, such a big deception and endure that politically. It simply can't be shrugged off and that's Howard's response."

"Blair has shrugged it off but Blair is deeply damaged. It's far from over here, there's a lot that is going to happen and much of it could wash onto Howard. And it's unravelling in America and Bush could lose the election next year. I've not seen political leaders survive when they've been complicit in such an open deception for so long."

Pilger claims White House knew Saddam was no threat: "after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on September 11 that year, Pilger claimed Rice said the US 'must move to take advantage of these new opportunities' to attack Iraq and claim control of its oil. Pilger uncovered video footage of Powell in Cairo on February 24, 2001 saying, 'He (Saddam Hussein) has not developed any significant capability with respect to weapons of mass destruction. He is unable to project conventional power against his neighbours.'"

"I think it's very serious for Howard. Howard has followed the Americans and to a lesser degree Blair almost word for word," Pilger [said] "All Howard does is say 'well it's not true' and never explains himself. I just don't believe you can be seen to be party to such a big lie, such a big deception and endure that politically. It simply can't be shrugged off and that's Howard's response."

"Blair has shrugged it off but Blair is deeply damaged. It's far from over here, there's a lot that is going to happen and much of it could wash onto Howard. And it's unravelling in America and Bush could lose the election next year. I've not seen political leaders survive when they've been complicit in such an open deception for so long."