indeed, robin cook didn't get robin and i disagreed about it in the end. and so obviously these issues to do with the nature of the meetings that were held, but i was in an almost constant interaction for 2002 and 2003 with members of the cabinet. >> you do have both from two different witnesses that we've taken test was from, alastair campbell and lord turnbull. the same thought that you need to accommodate difference of view and respond to it within a collective, with in this case the cabinet or some smaller group, the ad hoc committee for example. with hindsight, do you think there were sufficient space and opportunity for those differences to be accommodated and fitted to the final judgment? >> i really do, actually, yes. nobody in the cabinet was unaware of what the whole issue was about. it was the thing running about the whole of the planning of the mainstream at the time. and the work members of the cabinet who would challenge and disagree, but most of them agreed. it was the same with parliament. i was subject constant number of peoples telling yo

he sat in robin cook's seat. there was a piece of paper in the table, which we normally did not have any papers, apart from the agenda, and it was the pq answer, which we did not know was a pq answer back then, and he started reading it out, so everyone said, "we can read," you know, and then, so he, everyone said, "that is it." i said, "that is extraordinary. why is it so late? did you change your mind?" and they all said, "itclare!" -- "clare!" and on this, because -- he said he was ready to ask questions, but no report. i did ask him later, because it was in the morning war cabinet, or whatever you call it, that he did come to, and he gave his legal device. he said, "oh, it takes me a long time to make my mind up." >> the argument on this cabinet meeting, we have heard -- >> i would like to ask you for the books. you know, the cabinet secretary keeps a manuscript notes, and there is another private secretary that keeps a manuscript note on this. i think you should check the record. >> we noted that. the argume

>> people in the cabinet for example robin cook and from time to time player short. >> they were not at the meeting? >> know what we would discuss this and obviously breyer to the invasion in iraq i think if you will more than 24 different cabinet meetings this was a topic that was right through the mainstream. >> to discuss the paper in the cabinet? >> we didn't discuss the options paper specifically in cabinet -- >> clear shortstop and to the paper. >> yes but the discussion that we had in the cabinet was a discussion again and again and again and the options were very simple. the options were a sanctions framework that was effective, alternatively the u.n. inspectors doing the job alternatively you have to remove saddam. those were the options. >> what were the downside arguments being put about removing saddam? >> this was partly for example reading telegrams coming from the ambassadors abroad and so on. the downside arguments were obviously going to be that not military action or something that you should consider as a last resort but there were issues to do with relationships a

gordon told me that robin cooke had told someone in the media that gordon, robin and i were against -- i wasn't reading all the media at that time. but i didn't know robin was going to resign. you can see how for the communication -- well, the discussion in the cabinet was. it was tone blair who told me that robin is gone -- or going today. >> so you were unaware -- >> it was fractured and broken down. >> you had no idea that robin cooke had misgivings? >> i knew he had misgivings. and robin had said if we do it properly through the u.n., we're all for it. so the misgivings were always about breaking out of what was meant to be the policy. which 'cause of the media one was fearing all the time. >> and so you had a meeting with the prime minister which encouraged you to stay. what were the assurances you were given then? >> well, he rang me up and was very cross and i said well, i'll go now. and he goes no, no, he didn't want two of us going at the same time. and he said come and see me. he asked me to see him two or three times and said what is it? what is your bottom line? and indeed

robin. it's unbelievable. >> it is unbelievable. and didn't you cookw brees, when he came to town? >> wel you know, when drew brees was being recruited by micky lomas and coach payton, they came to emeril's. i said no pressure. but if you sign with the saints, i'll cook you and your wife dinner anytime you want in your home. it just so happens he signed. and we've been friends ever since. >> good story there. and i know your cooking sealed the deal. we want to have some dishes here. you know, super bowl sunday. people want some dips. what kind of dips are you going to make for us? >> the who dat hot crab dip. >> ooh. tell us the ingredients. >> a little cream cheese and n mayonnaise in here. and louisiana blue crab meat. the best crab meat in the world. we're going to stir that up a little bit. put that in our casserole. we're going to top that off with a little buttered bread crumbs. >> just a little something-something. >> we're going to finish it in the oven, 350 degrees for half an hour. >> that's a good start. we should tell everybody. you can get