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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker asserts confidence that evidence of specific weapons will be discovered.
In plain terms
I am sure evidence of these weapons will be found.
What can you take from it?
Confidence in intelligence can drive policy decisions.

Where it applies

  • policy making
  • intelligence briefing
  • national security

Putting it to work

  • communicate intelligence assessments
  • prepare for evidence discovery

Questions to consider

  • How do you weigh confidence against uncertainty in intelligence?
  • What happens when expected evidence is not found?

Another view

Confidence does not guarantee the evidence will actually materialize.

More from Tony Blair

  1. Before people crow about the absence of Weapons of Mass Destruction, I suggest they wait a bit.

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  2. What amazes me is how many people are happy for Saddam to stay. They ask why we don't get rid of Mugabe, why not the Burmese lot. Yes, let's get rid of them al…

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  3. This is the time not just for this Government-or, indeed, for this Prime Minister-but for this House to give a lead: to show that we will stand up for what we …

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