PaulK writes:
My memory is that there was a lot of skepticism in the UK. The government went along, but quite possibly more out of a desire to keep good relations with the US. IIRC the UK government initially tried to persuade the U.S. to wait for the UN Inspectors. I'm pretty sure that the French didn't beleive it, which is why they stayed out of the war.
I believe that the UK intelligence agreed with American intelligence on the Issue. As far as the French are concerned, I think it had as much to do with the fact that they were dealing under the counter with Hussein in contravention of the US food for arms embargo.
In the end though, Iraq has, in my view, been a disaster. It was supposed to make us safer from terrorist threats which it probably has in the short term. In the longer term though I think that it has put the world at much greater risk.
Everybody is entitled to my opinion.