The session today focused on military planning and the view from London and Baghdad between 2004 and 2007.

Lieutenant General Sir Anthony Pigott, who was deputy chief of the defence staff (commitments), told the inquiry that the UK committed a large force in order to "buy" influence with the US, showing that it was a "serious player".

He said that he set up a small team to look at the options for military action against Iraq, following Tony Blair's now notorious meeting with George Bush at the president's ranch in Texas in April 2002.

Pigott said that the focus was initially upon disarmament rather than regime change. "The intent I was picking up from HMG Ltd - not the Americans, HMG Ltd - was WMD," he said.

He said that Britain wanted to play a major role, from early on. "There was a growing feel that if all the legal things are in place there is more interest in a defined role - not for aggrandisement - not just a sort of nuisance."

He said that committing a significant force would "enhance no end" Britain's relationship with the US, saying: "You buy that on your contribution and your willingness to put - not just boots on the ground - people in danger. They know you are a serious player."

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

If there wasn't anything meaty, it was a long way to go to do nothing, you know, meaty - Lieutenant General Sir Anthony Pigott

Criticising the fact that the Americans declared victory after the fall of Saddam's statue in April 2003, he said: "If you look at those media cries they don't add up to a sensible strategy."

He said that it was "too strong" to say that reconstruction attempts after the invasion went wrong.

The inquiry sometimes seemed confused by some of his answers. Discussing the possibility - subsequently dropped - that British forces could invade through Turkey, he said: "You don't need an archbishop to tell you that is a sensible thing to do."

This week's theme of military planning for the aftermath of the invasion was continued, with Major General David Wilson, the senior British military adviser at US Central Command in Florida where the invasion was planned. He said the UK had sought confirmation that clear plans were in place for the post-war project.

Echoing reports from other witnesses this week, he said: "The UK delegation made the point early on. I personally didn't think it got any entirely satisfactory answer."

Discussing the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, set up by the US to supervise the post-war effort, he said: "They were under-staffed, under-funded, and they had profound difficulties in some instances with the clarity of their mission."