'I don't think he wanted to go by the military route. Blair would much rather it hadn't taken place': Britain's ambassador to the United States leaves after four years dogged by Iraq. In an exclusive interview, Sir David Manning talks to John Kampfner in Washington about a president, a prime minister and the deceptions on the eve of war

David Manning greets me warmly as he strides into the ornate drawing room of his Lutyens residence. This is known as the decompression chamber, the room where he would sit […]