Sir Rodric's book may, unfashionably, dodge some of those complexities.

ECONOMIST: The second world war

Sir Rodric said it was difficult to resist such dangers "and from time to time it fails, you get people who should be dispassionate becoming passionately involved in things".

BBC: The weapons expert said Iraq was a threat to its neighbours

Former Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) chairman Sir Rodric Braithwaite told the programme it looked like the current committee had become involved in rallying the public around the pre-war stance against Iraq.

BBC: The weapons expert said Iraq was a threat to its neighbours