Eddie Barnes - Iraq: yet another question that needs answering

Clare Short gives more tantalising evidence today on one of the most fascinating issues raised by the Iraq inquiry - the process by which the Attorney General ended up changing his mind on the legality of the war. Lord Goldsmith revealed last week that what persuaded him to say the war was legal was his visit to the US, where he met Condaleeza Rice, her legal advisers and Britain's Ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock.

The former International Development Secretary claimed today that Blair "leaned" on Goldsmith to change his mind. Later, she added: "It was suggested to him that he go to the US to get advice about the legal position......I think all that was leaning on – sending him to America....."

We're getting close to something here, but the inquiry has so far failed to nail this down. Who organised Goldsmith's visit? Who "suggested" it? Did Downing Street and the White House discuss the AG's opposition and decide that a trip across the pond would be just the thing to make him agree? Answers to these questions are vital if the Inquiry is going to reveal the full story of what happened.

This isn't just process: just to recap, Blair said last week that had Goldsmith stuck to his guns that the war was illegal, then British troops wouldn't have gone in.