As a journalist, I feel it's only right to express my professional admiration for the work carried out by the Telegraph's team in Baghdad who seem more willing to get their hands dirty and rummage through the rubble of the fallen regime than the rest of the West's media. Their ability to outscore the combined revelations of the BBC, Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France Presse, CNN, Murdoch's News International, and hundreds of other hacks in the hunt for scoops from the ruins of Saddam's regime is quite inspiring.

After all, chippies across the country had barely had time to wrap fish suppers in Daily Telegraph exclusives about "socialist firebrand" George Galloway and his alleged bungs from the Iraqi government, before its Sunday sister title was revealing "evidence" of the link between Saddam and Osama bin Laden.

It is, you must admit, remarkable that the British establishment's record of choice should, in the space of one week, find documentary proof that not only probably cripples the political career and integrity of one of Parliament's strongest critics of the war but also enables Dubya to invoke the September 11 clause in claiming moral authority for the conflict.

What are the chances of that happening, eh? After all, without the journalistic prowess of Inigo Gilmore, David Blair, et al, Mr Tony and the Cowboy might have looked like their war was unjust, based on a fictional premiss.

And don't assume this is the last we've heard from the Telegraph's crack team.

It's breaking the journalistic code, I know, but I can't help but mention that I've heard a few things on the grapevine already. Things about further alleged discoveries in the ruins of Iraqi ministry buildings, which people ought not to be surprised to see in print in the near future:

* Minutes of meetings between Saddam and Yasser Arafat planning the assassination of Ariel Sharon and a full-scale invasion of Israel
* Envelope addressed to Hans Blix containing pictures of the UN's chief weapons inspector in intimate contact with various farmyard animals, along with a message crudely constructed from newspaper clippings which reads: "Remember, Fatty: if you find anything, then the press find the negatives"
* A greetings card bearing the message: "Dear Sadie. Thanks for the latest "special deliveries"; I'll be sure to keep them well hidden until it's time. They'll really be "blown away" (heh heh!) when we finally go public. Drop by Damascus whenever - my home is your home. We Arab leaders should stick together. Love to the kids. Big hug! Bashar.x."
* And most shocking of all, direct debit forms from the presidential palace in Paris authorising payment for regular shipments of honey-cured Kurdish baby meat

Believe what you will, but just remember: you heard it here first.