Jonesy, my understanding of the way it unfolded was that after 9/11 GWB wanted the US to go into Iraq immediately and take out Saddam. Blair counselled GWB and convinced him to follow a more measured route, using UN and weapons inspections; give Saddam a chance to comply before invasion.
Well prior to 9/11 GWB had talked about reducing the US presence in Iraq, dismantling no-fly zones etc. Certainly after 9/11 the US was damaged in spirit and needed to redress the hurt.
