The problem with Gandalf somehow distracting Saruman from Narya is that he was trapped in Saruman's place of power and, by his own explicit admission in recounting his tale at Rivendell, was completely powerless. I don't see that the 'Unfinished Tales' version can be reconciled with LOTR without Saruman looking like a light-minded idiot, instead of a wily and powerful opponent obsessed with ring-lore, and without calling Gandalf a liar (or exaggerator at best).
<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:40 PM January 12, 2004: Message edited by: Lost One ]
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