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August 25, 2003
Blair: Sexing up Iraq
The Financial Times reports damning evidence in regards to the sexing up of Iraq claims.
Blair sought changes to dossier
By Jean Eaglesham, Political Correspondent
24 August 2003
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1059479270139&p=1012571727088
"Tony Blair recommended that a claim Saddam Hussein could produce an "improvised nuclear device" within a few months be reinstated in the Iraq dossier, just days before its publication, evidence revealed this weekend.
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The prime minister's request was rebuffed by John Scarlett, the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, because "no intelligence" supported the claim.
The evidence of Mr Blair's intervention is damaging for the government, which has consistently denied claims it "sexed up" the dossier. Failure to strengthen the case was not for lack of trying on Downing Street's part, confidential government e-mail and memos published this weekend suggest. Strictly speaking, the memo supports the government's insistence that it did not override JIC advice."
and
"The documents shed new light on why Mr Blair ignored advice from Jonathan Powell, his chief of staff, to make it clear the government had no evidence Iraq posed a threat. Mr Campbell's reply to Mr Powell did not deny his assertion. The head of communications suggested the dossier did not need to spell out the absence of a threat because it was designed to make the argument for war, rather than set out the case for and against.
"Re the 'imminent threat' point, that is why TB's foreword sets out 'the case I am making'," an e-mail from Mr Campbell to Mr Scarlett and Mr Powell said."
My dear GB readers, perhaps you can tell me the evolution of sentiment on this. I admit I would feel no small pleasure in seeing Blair go down.
Posted by The Lounsbury at August 25, 2003 11:12 AM
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Jan-Dec 2003
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