Some selected quotes from Jack Straw's presser today in Brussels, prefaced, it should be pointed out, by this line: ‘‘We are taking this step because words must mean what they say."


"Fifteen weeks is long enough for Saddam Hussein to demonstrate whether he is committed, actively, full and immediately, to comply and disarm peacefully - or not. So far he has demonstrated only substantive non-compliance."

"It's not up to us to demonstrate Saddam's guilt - he's already shown that. It's up to him to prove his innocence."

Afraid it all left me a bit misunderinformed.