Another good story submerged during Ra^thergate: Kofi Annan has managed to greatly irritate the nations of the Iraq War coalition, with yet another amazingly ill-considered statement—almost as dumb as some of the things John Kerry has said: Iraq war allies lash out at Annan.

Mr Annan said in an interview with the BBC World Service that “painful lessons” had been learnt since the war in Iraq.

“Lessons for the US, the UN and other member states. I think in the end everybody’s concluded it’s best to work together with our allies and through the UN,” he said.

Mr Annan told the BBC: “I hope we do not see another Iraq-type operation for a long time - without UN approval and much broader support from the international community.”

He said he believed there should have been a second UN resolution following Iraq’s failure to comply over weapons inspections.

And it should have been up to the Security Council to approve or determine the consequences, he added.

When pressed on whether he viewed the invasion of Iraq as illegal, he said: “Yes, if you wish. I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter from our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal.”