However regardless of the timing, Rove et.al. would have preferred this kind of remark after the election. Don't underestimate the public damage this confession will have on the election. Bush and Kerry have to debate, and I'm sure the press will raise this quote from Blair and wave it in front of Dubya. More fun to watch will be Vice President Strangelove's reaction to it since Cheney continues to publicly proclaim that Saddam was moments away from arming Al-Queda with ray-guns and Death Stars. Until now it's been all about a left wing conspiracy, but a public admission that WMD are as hard to find as rain forests in Iraq from their staunchest ally during the war hurts. Hopefully, this will be raised by the Democrats this fall and force the Bush White House to continue to face some uncomfortable questions about their lies before the war.